Lata Mangeshkar returns home after 28 days in hospital

After 28 days at Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai, Lata Mangeshkar returned home yesterday following a complete recovery from pneumonia. The 90-year-old has been advised rest and physiotherapy upon her return home.

The veteran singer released a statement via her publicist that thanked the entire medical staff at the South Mumbai hospital. She said, "Namaskaar, for the past 28 days, I was at Breach Candy hospital. I was diagnosed with pneumonia. The doctors preferred that I extend my stay in the hospital and go home when completely healthy. Today, I am back home with the blessings of Mai and Baba, I have my deepest gratitude to all my well-wishers all over.

"Your prayers and good wishes have worked and I humbly bow down to each one of you. My doctors at Breach Candy have been my guardian angels and I stand in eternal gratitude to each one of them. The nursing staff has been exceptional. A special thank you to the team of doctors who treated me with utmost care and love... Dr Pratit Samdani, Dr Ashwin Mehta, Dr Zareer Udwadia, Dr Nishit Shah, Dr Janardan Nimbolkar and Dr Rajeev Sharma. Your endless love and blessings are precious. Thank you, again!"

Veteran actor Dilip Kumar also shared his happiness on Mangeshkar's discharge from the hospital. On his Twitter handle, he wrote, "Overjoyed to hear the good news that my 'choti behen' Lata is feeling much better and is at her home now. Please take good care of yourself."

Mangeshkar was admitted to the hospital on 11 November after complaining of breathing trouble. In the days that followed, Mangeshkar's family maintained the singer's health was progressing steadily and her stay in hospital was due to her advanced age.

Over a long seven-decade career, the singer has sung for over 1,000 songs in several different languages. She has also been conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.