Balangir, Jan 15: Eminent Ghuduka folk singer Kuni Chhatriya of Tusura in Balangir district passed away prematurely on Wednesday night while undergoing treatment. She was 36.

Kuni Chhatriya was widely regarded as the voice of Ghuduka folk music and had earned a special place among artists across the region. She was the wife of noted folk artist Bada Chhatriya, who played a significant role in popularising the Ghuduka tradition of Tusura.

Following her demise, a pall of gloom has descended over Tusura and surrounding areas, with artists and admirers mourning the loss of a talented vocalist. Her mortal remains were brought from Burla to her residence in Tusura on Thursday, where her last rites will be performed.

Kuni Chhatriya had represented Odisha’s folk heritage on several national and international platforms, earning recognition for her powerful voice and contribution to traditional Ghuduka music. Her untimely death is being described as a major loss to the state’s folk art community.