Andhra Pradesh Industries Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy passed away on the morning of February 21, Monday. He was 50. Goutham Reddy reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday morning, and was brought dead to Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad. The Minister had recently returned from Dubai, where he was attending the India Pavilion at EXPO2020. He inaugurated the Andhra Pradesh Week at the India Pavilion on February 11.
In a statement, Apollo Hospitals in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, stated that the minister was brought to the hospital in an emergency after he had suddenly collapsed at home. "He arrived into our ER at 07:45am and was unresponsive, not breathing and in cardiac arrest on arrival. He received immediate CPR and advanced cardiac life support in our emergency department. The emergency medicine team and specialists including cardiologists and critical care doctors have attended to him. CPR was done for more than 90 minutes. Despite our best efforts he could not be revived. He was declared to have died at 9:16am today morning. We are supporting his family to the best extent possible in this difficult time," the Apollo Hospital's statement read.
Goutham Reddy is a two-time MLA from Atmakur Assembly constituency in Nellore district. He held the portfolios of Industries, Commerce, IT & Skill Development in the Andhra Pradesh government. Goutham Reddy was the son of former MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy who has represented the Nellore Lok Sabha constituency multiple times.
Condolences poured in for Goutham Reddy from leaders across political parties as well as government officials and the general public.
Condoling his death, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu tweeted: “Andhra Pradesh Industries and IT Minister Shri Mekapati Goutham Reddy's demise is most unfortunate.He was a very gentle, cultured man. He was a leader with an awareness of public issues and commitment to his work.”
ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్ పరిశ్రమల, ఐటీ శాఖ మంత్రి శ్రీ మేకపాటి గౌతమ్ రెడ్డి పరమపదించడం అత్యంత విచారకరం. వారు ఎంతో సౌమ్యులు, సంస్కారవంతులు. ప్రజా సమస్యల పట్ల అవగాహన, చేసే పని పట్ల నిబద్దత కలిగిన నాయకులు. pic.twitter.com/XKj0APsHLU
— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) February 21, 2022
Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao said that he was shocked beyond belief.
Deeply saddened & shocked beyond belief to learn about the sudden demise of dear friend @MekapatiGoutham Garu
— KTR (@KTRTRS) February 21, 2022
My heartfelt condolences to the family & friends in this hour of grief
Gone too soon brother. Pray that you rest in peace pic.twitter.com/9V7IYk3o03
It’s terrible to hear about the loss of Sri Goutham Reddy, Minister for Industries, AP.
— Srijana Gummalla (@GummallaSrijana) February 21, 2022
I express my sincere sympathy to his family and friends.
Words can't express how saddened we are to hear of the loss of great minister. pic.twitter.com/IcjZdJGLSV
Extremely shocked and saddened to hear about the passing away of Mekapati Goutham Reddy Garu. The sense of loss can't be described in words and I wish that may the departed soul rest in peace.#MekapatiGoutham
— Rajini Vidadala (@VidadalaRajini) February 21, 2022
At the India Pavilion at EXPO Dubai, he inaugurated the state floor, and led the high-level delegation to attract investments to Andhra.