Veteran Ghazal singer from Telangana, Pandit Vithal Rao, who had been missing from last month in Shirdi, passed away. He breathed his last on Friday. He was 86 year old. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease. However, the exact reasons behind his death is yet to be known.

Telangana Chief Minister KCR has expressed his deep condolences to the bereaved family. Mr Rao wanted to felicitate Vithal on the eve of the first anniversary of the Telangana State formation. Due to his sudden missing, he couldn't make it to the do. Vithal who went to Shirdi pilgrim on May 24 along with his family members had been missing from then after Sai Baba's darshan. Since then, his family was tracing for his whereabouts.

Vithal had the distinction of being the last court singer of the Nizam of Hyderabad. He is known for his expert rendition of Sufi lyrics by Hazrat Amir Khusro and also Makhdoom Mohiuddin's 'Ek chameli ke mandve tale'. His students have posted a Facebook page titled 'Finding Vithal Rao' to trace him.