PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister and former Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar suffering from pancreatic cancer died on Sunday despite doctors best efforts, his office said Sunday.

Parrikar, 63, was suffering from a serious pancreatic ailment and was currently at his private residence at Dona Paula near here. The former Defence Minister's health, which has been fluctuating for a year, took a turn for the worse in the past two days.

A frail Parrikar had made rare public appearances in the past few months and was mostly recuperating at his home in Dona Paula. 

Relatives of ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, senior government officials and political leaders started arriving at his residence in Dona Paula here Sunday evening.

Among the first to arrive at the chief minister's private residence was state Director General of Police Pranab Nanda. Police presence around the house has also been increased. 

He became the Chief Minister of Goa for the first time 2000 and continued till 2005. His second stint was from 2012 to 2014 after which he joined the Central government. He became an MLA in 1994 and was the Leader of Opposition in the Goa Assembly from June to November 1999.

A graduate of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, he was the first alumni of one of the top engineering institutes of India to become an MLA. 

Parrikar was born in Mapusa joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at a young age.   

He is survived by two sons. His wife Medha Parrikar died in 2001 following an illness.

(With inputs from PTI)