Srinagar, Nov. 5 -- Senior Kashmir journalist and J&K bureau chief of The Week magazine Tariq Bhat passed away on Tuesday after suffering from cardiac arrest. He was 54. His family said that Bhat lost consciousness in the morning and was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital. "The doctors said that he was dead on arrival and had suffered cardiac arrest," said his close relative. Bhat started his journalism career from Indian Express in 1997 and later joined weekly magazine, The Week with which he was associated for the past 24 years. He was known for his hardcore ground reporting, and in-depth and insightful analysis of Kashmir's political upheavals. Hundreds of people rushed to his residence in Chota Bazar in Old City and participated in funeral procession. He is survived by his wife, two school going daughters and a son. Bhat's death was widely mourned by the political circles and journalistic fraternity of Kashmir and beyond. The Week on its X handle paid tributes to Bhat. "A journalist of impeccable integrity, Tariq had been with The Week for 24 years. He joined the Malayala Manorama Group as a senior correspondent on November 27, 2001. Before joining The Week, he was with The Indian Express," it said. Chief minister Omar Abdullah, director information Nitish Rajora, Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also expressed sorrow on Bhat's demise. htc...