Noted Irrigation expert R Vidyasagar Rao, who was undergoing treatment for metastatic bladder Cancer, passed away today. Rao, 81, was suffering from terminal cancer and underwent a surgery last year in the USA. As his condition deteriorated, he was admitted into a private hospital a week ago.

A hospital bulletin said the malignant cancer progressed to other vital organs and his condition deteriorated. He suffered a cardiac arrest from which he was revived. The overall condition again deteriorated due to worsening of his underlying conditions and he passed away peacefully.

Rao has made immense contribution to the re-engineering and redesigning of Telangana Irrigation. He was the man behind Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's Power Point presentation in the State Legislative Assembly on Telangana irrigation system.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao asked the Chief Secretary to make arrangements for organising a State funeral for Vidyasagar Rao.

Vidyasagar was a native of Jajireddygudem in Nalgonda district. He did his Bachelors in Engineering from Osmania University in 1960 and master’s degree in Engineering in Water Resources Development from University of Roorkee in 1979.

He also completed a Diploma in Water Resources Systems Engineering, Colorado State University (USA) in 1983, besides completing Bachelors of Law from Delhi University.