Rupi Soren, 80, Dies in Ranchi Hospital; Last Rites Set for Thursday

Rupi Soren, 80, the mother of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, died at Hill View Hospital in Ranchi on Wednesday, September 21, 2026, after being admitted on September 18 with breathing difficulty. The director of the hospital, Dr Nitesh Priya, confirmed that she had been on ventilator support and was in critical condition.

Soren had visited her earlier that day, and the CM shared an emotional post on social media, calling her his greatest shelter. He also recalled that Rupi accepted the Padma Bhushan on behalf of her late husband, Shibu Soren, at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar expressed his condolences, saying, "In this hour of grief, my deepest condolences are with the chief minister and his family." BJP leader Champai Soren and Congress spokesperson Keshav Mahato Kamlesh also offered their sympathies, while former CM Raghubar Das noted it was a personal loss for him.

The last rites are scheduled to be performed at Nemra village in Ramgarh district on Thursday, with state officials expected to attend.

Rupi Soren had contested the 1999 Dumka Lok Sabha seat against Babulal Marandi but lost by fewer than 5,000 votes; after that she devoted her life to her husband until his death in August 2025.