India, July 30 -- Lord Meghnad Desai, a renowned British Indian economist and House of Lords peer, died on Tuesday, with the Indian PM Narendra Modi remembering the role he played in deepening India-UK ties while mourning his death.

Desai was 85.

He is believed to have passed away in a hospital in Gurugram following a health issue, sources close to the family in London told The Hindu Business Line.

His wife, Lady Kishwar Desai, was quoted as saying by the newspaper: "I am devastated, as he was my rockstar husband, larger than life. Indestructible. I adored him."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi says Desai's death left him 'anguished'

Modi wrote on X: "Anguished by the passing away of Shri Meghnad Desai Ji, a distinguished thinker, writer...