Yogi Adityanath received the news in the middle of a meeting, a UP bureacrat said. (File photo)

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday expressed grief over the death of his father, Anand Singh Bisht at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.

In a statement, Yogi Adityanath said he would not be able to attend the last rites tomorrow because of the lockdown and his responsibilities in the fight against coronavirus. "I am very saddened to hear the news of my father's death. My father has always taught me to be faithful, hardworking and selfless. I wanted to be with him in his final moments, but could not due to my responsibility to protect Uttar Pradesh's 23 crore people. I will not be able to attend the funeral tomorrow due to the lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus. I appeal to my mother and my relatives to follow the lockdown protocol while attending the funeral. I will visit after the lockdown ends," said the Chief Minister.

Mr Bisht, 71, was admitted in hospital last month due to kidney problems. His body is being taken to his village in Pauri district of Uttarakhand.

Yogi Adityanath received the news of his father's death in the middle of a meeting on the COVID-19 crisis, a senior bureaucrat tweeted.

The news of his father breathing his last came to him in midst of the meeting . Unfazed by the news @myogiadityanath stood up only after completing the meeting on COVID-19. — Shishir (@ShishirGoUP) April 20, 2020

Several leaders, including Union Minister Smriti Irani, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Kamal Nath have condoled the death of Yogi Adityanth's father.

माननीय मुख्यमंत्री @myogiadityanath जी के पिता श्री आनंद सिंह बिष्ट जी के निधन का दुखद समाचार प्राप्त हुआ । प्रभु उनकी आत्मा को शांति दें एवं उनके परिजनों को इस कठिन समय में साहस प्रदान करें ???? — Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) April 20, 2020

Former UP chief minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav also expressed condolences.

मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ जी के पिता के देहावसान पर भावभीनी श्रद्धांजलि! — Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) April 20, 2020

"My deepest condolences on the death of Shri Anand Singh Bishtji, father of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. May God give courage to the family to suffer pain in this hour of grief. Soulful tribute," Priyanka Gandhi Vadra tweeted.

Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state, has reported 959 coronavirus cases, including 17 deaths. Across India, more than 17,000 cases have been reported, more than 500 have died.