Noted painter and author Lain Singh Bangel was cremated at the Panshupatinath Aryaghat Wednesday. Bangdel, a member of the Raj Sabha, died Tuesday of a heart attack. He was 81.

Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, people from various walks of life and Kathmandu-based diplomats paid their last respect to Bangdel at the Royal Nepal Academy building where his body was placed for public viewing before the cremation.

UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal said Wednesday that his party was grieved to hear about the demise of Bangdel. He said Bangdel’s demise led the country to face an irreparable loss.

Similarly President of Nepali Congress (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba, expressed his grief towards the demise of Bangdel saying he had made an immense contribution to the field of art and literature in the country.

Bangdel was a former Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of the Academy. He authored several books including the Stolen Images of Nepal– a record of stolen religious objects lifted from temples and sold mainly in the West as precious artifacts.

Some of the idols were returned after the book publication.