Rau fourth Rajasthan governor to die in 12 years

JAIPUR - In what could be a jinx of sorts or just an unfortunate coincidence, Rajasthan Governor Prabha Rau, who passed away in New Delhi Monday, was the fourth Raj Bhavan occupant in 12 years to die while in office.

Rau took over as governor on Jan 25, 2010, shortly after her predecessor S.K. Singh died after a prolonged illness in New Delhi on Dec 1, 2009. Singh, 77, had been appointed governor on Sep 6, 2007.

Before him, Nirmal Chand Jain passed away on Sep 22, 2003 without completing his full tenure. Jain was 75 and had taken over just a few months earlier on May 14, 2003.

The other person whose tenure was cut short was Darbara Singh, who was appointed as governor on May 1, 1998, and passed away just days later on May 24, 1998 in a New Delhi hospital after a brief illness.

Rau suffered a cardiac arrest at the Jodhpur House guesthouse in New Delhi Monday. She was rushed to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and was pronounced dead soon after.