Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], June 27 (ANI): Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Raman Singh and renowned Hindi poet Kumar Vishwas paid tributes to Padma Shri awardee Dr Surendra Dubey, who passed away recently.

Singh, expressing his grief, said, 'He was junior to me. Today, the voice of Chhattisgarh has gone silent. His sudden demise has left everyone in shock and grief. May his family get the strength to bear the loss.'

Earlier in the day, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paid tribute to the Padma Shri awardee and noted poet-satirist, calling it an irreparable loss for the state and the literary world, and the void left behind cannot be filled.

'Padma Shri awardee Dr Surendra Dubey, who was a famous poet of humour and satire, and who made Chhattisgarh famous in the world, is no more. This is an invaluable loss for Chhattisgarh and the literary world. His loss cannot be filled... We are here to pay tribute to him. We pray to God to give peace to his soul and strength to his family to bear this grief,' CM Vishnu Deo Sai told ANI.

The Chief Minister visited the late Dr Surendra Dubey's residence and offered floral tributes to his mortal remains.

Sharing a message on social media platform X, CM Sai wrote, 'Paying tribute to the son of Chhattisgarh's soil, the renowned humorist poet Padmashri Dr. Surendra Dubey ji, I visited his residence and offered floral tributes to his mortal remains.'

CM Sai expressed condolences to his family members and added that the void left in Chhattisgarh's literary world cannot be filled.

'Meeting with family members, I expressed condolences and prayed to God to grant the departed soul a place at His divine feet and provide strength and patience to the family in this difficult time. His absence will leave a void in Chhattisgarh's literary consciousness, which cannot be filled. Om Shanti,' the X post read.

Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel also expressed grief over Dr Dubey's demise.

In a post on the social media platform X, Baghel wrote, 'Padma Shri awardee, resident of Chhattisgarh, humour poet Dr Surendra Dubey ji's passing is sad news. May God grant peace to his soul and strength to his family to bear this grief. Om Shanti.'

Dr Surendra Dubey was conferred the Padma Shri in 2010 for his contribution to literature and education. (ANI)