Veteran trade union leader SK Baxi died on Sunday morning due to chest infection.
Baxi, 84, was the president of Bihar Colliery Kamgar Union ( BCKU) and also the vice president of CITU.
He was diagnosed with chest infection and was admitted to SNMMCH on Saturday. However, since he was not keeping well, he was asked to be taken to a higher centre for treatment.
He was then sent to Mission hospital Durgapur late Saturday night but doctors refused to admit him there. He was being brought back to Dhanbad but died during the return journey.
Baxi had started his career as a school teacher but later joined Communist party and joined the trade union and remained one of the undisputed leaders for six decades till he breathed his last.
He also has contested several elections but failed to become an MLA.
Political leaders cutting across party lines have expressed deep condolences over his death. One of his septuagenarian journalist Bankhandi Mishra said, "One of the pillars of the left trade union in the coal industry passed away and his place cannot be filled." .
Baxi also was a member of JBCCI and other Constantine committees of different industries.