Jamshedpur, Feb. 17: Former president of Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SCCI) and social worker Chimanlal Bhalotia died this morning at his residence in the Circuit House Area.

He was suffering from throat cancer for seven years. He is survived by his wife and five children.

A towering figure in the industry sector, Bhalotia?s career had a humble beginning but his hard work paid great dividends and he carved a niche in the city?s industrial sector.

Born in 1938 at a small place in Harhargattu on the outskirts of Jamshedpur, Chimanlal was the eldest of his six brothers. He took over the reins of the family?s foodgrain business from his father.

But it was in 1974-75, when the city was witnessing rapid industrialisation, that Bhalotia?s dreams were awakened. He, with help from his brothers, started his first individual business enterprise, a machine workshop for Telco, at Mango. In 1980, he opened his first factory, Tramco Coaches, a body-building unit in the Adityapur Industrial Area.

Through grit and determination, he soon established the Bhalotia Empire with his two enterprises ? Tramco Refactories and Tramco Cement.

But slowly he detached himself from full-time business and for the last 15 years, Bhalotia had been devoting more time to social service. A patron of the Marwari community in the steel city, he was associated with various organisations.

He served Tatanagar Goushala Trust for almost 35 years as its president and also headed the Jharkhand Pradesh Marwari Sammelan, Marwari Relief Society, Jamshedpur chapter.

He was also associated with Ram Manohar Lohia Seva Sansthan, Red Cross Society, while pursuing his love to serve the people.

His benevolent nature touched all. Last year, he, along with other city dignitaries, collected a good amount for flood relief in Bihar.

He raised about Rs 1 lakh for the tsunami relief work, for which he was felicitated by Governor S.S. Razi.

The SCCI condoled his death saying they had lost a visionary.

His last rites would be performed tomorrow at Parvati Ghat, Bistupur, at 9.30 am.