Yellapur: Veteran writer N S Bharatanhalli (84) passed away at a hospital in Sirsi on Friday. He is survived by three daughters.

 Narayan Subray (N S) Hegde Bharatanhalli was not only a writer known for his creative stories and novels but had also worked as a journalist and a columnist. He had served as Yellapur reporter for Deccan Herald and Prajavani dailies between 1978 and 1994. He was a Hindi teacher by profession, and was active in various education, literary and social activities. He was a recipient of Karnataka Shree' and State Madhyama Academy awards.

He had presided over the taluk and zilla Kannada Sahitya Sammelans and played a major role in the construction of the first Sahitya Bhavan of the district in Yellapur.

He also had directed plays and had acted in it.