India, April 13 -- Popular green crusader of Telangana and Padma Shri awardee Daripalli Ramaiah died at the age of 87 in Khammam on Saturday morning following a cardiac arrest, his family members announced.

Popularly known as "Vanajeevi Ramaiah" (forest dweller Ramaiah), the nature lover is survived by his wife, Janakamma, and four sons. "He was suffering from age-related issues for quite some time and suffered a heart attack at his residence in Reddipalli village early in the morning. He was shifted to Khammam government hospital, where he was declared brought dead on arrival," Janakamma told local reporters.

Also, called the "tree-man" of Telangana, Ramaiah embarked on a lifetime mission of developing plantation and conservation of tr...