Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya, the country’s first woman director-general of police (DGP), died at a hospital here after prolonged illness, an official said on Tuesday. She was 72.

Chaudhary breathed her last late on Monday night at a private hospital in Mumbai, the official said, adding that she is survived by her husband and two daughters.

The IPS Association in a tweet remembered Chaudhury, a 1973 batch officer, for her “sterling qualities of head and heart” and an illustrious career “adorned with many firsts and awards”.

“We mourn the demise of one of our icons, the first lady DGP and second lady IPS officer of India, Kanchan Chaudhary Bhattacharya,” the association tweeted.

Born in Himachal Pradesh, Chaudhary was the country’s second woman IPS officer after Kiran Bedi. Chaudhary led the Uttarakhand police force as DGP from 2004 to October 31, 2007.

During her 33-year-long career, she handled some sensitive cases, including the killing of national badminton champion Syed Modi and the Reliance-Bombay Dyeing case.

She made a guest appearance in the TV serial Udaan aired on Doordarshan in late 1980s, which was based on her life, showing her struggles to become an IPS officer.

She had earlier served as the inspector-general of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

In 1997, she was awarded the President’s police medal for distinguished service and also got the Rajiv Gandhi award for excellent all-round performance.

After retirement, she joined the Aam Aadm Party (AAP) and unsuccessfully contested the 2014 general election.

Her last rites will be performed at the Worli crematorium here on Wednesday.