Former Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Sekhar Basu Dies of COVID-19 in Kolkata Hospital

"Dr Basu was suffering from COVID-19 and other kidney ailments. He died at 4.50 am," the official told PTI.

Kolkata: Veteran nuclear scientist and former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission Dr Sekhar Basu succumbed to COVID-19 early on Thursday at a private hospital here, a health department official said.

He breathed his last just three days after turning 68.

“Dr Basu was suffering from COVID-19 and other kidney ailments. He died at 4.50 am,” the official told PTI.

President Ram Nath Kovind expressed his condolences to the family and friends, followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Demise of veteran scientist Padma Shri Dr Sekhar Basu is a huge loss to the nation. A former chairman of Atomic Energy Commission, he was a stalwart of nuclear science research & immensely contributed to nuclear powered submarine INS Arihant. Condolences to his family & friends.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) September 24, 2020

A mechanical engineer, Dr Basu is revered for his contributions to the country’s atomic energy programme. He was awarded Padma Shri in 2014.

I join the atomic energy fraternity in grieving the passing away of Dr. Sekhar Basu, a renowned nuclear scientist who played a key role in establishing India as a lead country in nuclear science and engineering. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Om Shanti!

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 24, 2020

He had also pioneered the highly complex reactor for India’s first nuclear-powered submarine INS Arihant.

Demise of eminent nuclear scientist Dr. Sekhar Basu is a huge loss for the nation and scientific community across the globe. As a champion of science, his pioneering works contributed greatly towards Indian nuclear projects. My thoughts are with his family in this hour of grief.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 24, 2020

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also mourned the demise of Dr Basu and extended her condolences to his family.

“Grieved to hear about the passing away of veteran nuclear scientist and former Atomic Energy Commission chairman, Dr Sekhar Basu. My condolences to his family and colleagues,” she tweeted.

Grieved to hear about the passing away of veteran nuclear scientist and former Atomic Energy Commission chairman, Dr Sekhar Basu. My condolences to his family and colleagues.

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) September 24, 2020

Describing Dr Basu’s death as an “untimely loss”, eminent physicist and Padma Bhushan-recipient Bikash Sinha said “the country lost a wonderful engineer and a gentleman”.

“I would say he left us at a relatively young age. He still had a lot more to contribute. He was an ingenious engineer who worked very hard for our nuclear programme.

“Basu also did a brilliant job for the nuclear-powered submarine. We are going to miss a good man,” Sinha (75), the former director of the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics and Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre, said.

Born on September 20, 1952, Dr Basu did his schooling from the city’s Ballygunge Government School and then graduated in mechanical engineering from Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), University of Mumbai, in 1974.

After completing a year’s training in nuclear science and engineering at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) School, he joined its Reactor Engineering Division in 1975.

He had also worked as the project director of the Nuclear Submarine Programme at BARC, before taking over as its director in 2012.

Dr Basu was also the brain behind designing, construction and operation of nuclear recycle plants at Tarapur and Kalpakkam.

He played a key role in the development of the Indian Neutrino Observatory at Tamil Nadu. The atomic scientist was conferred the Indian Nuclear Society Award in 2002.