Noida, Dec. 18 -- Eminent sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar, the hands behind the world's tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, passed away at his residence in Noida on Thursday, said Noida Police.

He was 100 and had been ailing with age-related illnesses.

The passing away of the legendary artist has drawn tributes from across the nation. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed his grief on X: "The demise of the great sculptor, the artisan of the world's tallest statue 'Statue of Unity', 'Padma Bhushan' Shri Ram V. Sutar Ji, is extremely sorrowful and an irreplaceable loss to the art world. A humble tribute to him! I pray to Lord Shri Ram that the departed noble soul attains eternal peace and grants strength to the grieving family ...