A Former Doordarshan news reader Sarla Maheshwari, one of the most recognised faces of TV news in the 1980s and 1990s, died on Thursday in Delhi, said family friend Shammi Narang. She was 71.

Maheshwari, who served as a news reader on Doordarshan from 1976 to 2005, was among the pioneers of TV news in India at a time broadcast was limited to a few hours throughout the day. Narang, who was Maheshwari’s co-anchor, also posted on X and Instagram announcing the news.