Harish Awasthi, former director general (news) with All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan, died Saturday after a prolonged struggle with kidney cancer.

The 63-year-old Awasthi served as AIR's Middle East correspondent and was also an officer in the Press Information Bureau (PIB). He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.

A retired Indian Information Service (IIS) officer, Awasthi passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) where he was being treated for kidney cancer, AIR sources said.