Calcutta, Dec. 28: Eminent industrialist and former sheriff of Calcutta, Jahar Lal Sengupta died of a massive cardiac arrest at a city hospital on Saturday.

The 77-year-old former president of Assocham (Associated Chambers of Commerce of India) and Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry is survived by his wife and son.

Sengupta held various key positions in the corporate sector throughout his career and had the rare distinction of being elected as the president of Assocham twice in the 1980s, apart from heading the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

At the time of death he was a director on the boards of Vesuvius Steel and TIL.

He had recently undergone pancreatitis operation and was recuperating at Woodlands where he died, family sources said. “His death has come as a big blow to all of us, since he was very well-respected,” said Subrata Moitra, who was part of a team of doctors overseeing Sengupta’s condition at Woodlands. His condition worsened and around 2 pm, he breathed his last, added Rana Dasgupta, general manager of the hospital.

Sengupta began his career as a central government employee. After obtaining a degree in cost accountancy from the United Kingdom, he joined Chloride India Ltd, which is now known as Exide Industries.

He later became the chairman-cum-managing director of the company and also rose to secure a position on the board of the parent company, Chloride Worldwide. Sengupta was also the chairman of Gestetner India Ltd and Escorts India Ltd.