Well-known evangelist D G S Dinakaran died at a private hospital in Chennai on Wednesday following a brief illness, family sources said.

He was 74 and is survived by wife, a son and three grand children.

Dinakaran was admitted to the Apollo hospital on January 29 due to heart and kidney ailments. The evangelist, who founded 'Jesus Calls' and made it a worldwide ministry, breathed his last at around 0630 hrs with his family members at the bedside, sources said. Chief Minister M Karunandhi was among the first to place a wreath on the body and pay homage to the departed missionary.

Recalling his long association with Dinakaran, Karunanidhi said he was deeply shocked on hearing the news of his death.

"Lakhs of people used to throng his meetings to hear his speech. Today, he has departed leaving all those people in tears," he said, and expressed his condolences to the bereaved family members.