Udhagamandalam: M R Srinivasan, the nuclear scientist and former Atomic Energy Commission chairman who was instrumental in the development of India’s nuclear power programme, died in Ooty on Tuesday. He was 95.Srinivasan was admitted to a private hospital in Ooty after he complained of discomfort on Monday afternoon. He died after suffering cardiac arrest on Tuesday. Srinivasan is survived by his wife, Geetha Srinivasan, daughter Sharadha Srinivasan and son Raghuvir Srinivasan.Srinivasan had the distinction of working with Homi J Bhabha on the construction of India’s first nuclear research reactor, Apsara, which went critical in Aug 1956. His career was marked by associations with the most hallowed names in India’s atomic power programme, including Vikram Sarabhai, Homi Sethna and Dr Raja Ramanna.Born on Jan 5, 1930 in Karnataka, Malur Ramasamy Srinivasan finished his schooling at Mysore. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering in 1950 from UVCE, then a new engineering college founded by M Visvesvaraya.After his master’s in 1952, he was awarded a PhD by McGill University, Montreal, in 1954. Specialising in gas turbine technology, he joined the Department of Atomic Energy in Sept 1955 and worked alongside Bhabha. In Aug 1959, Srinivasan was appointed principal project engineer for the construction of India’s first atomic power station. He went on to become the chief project engineer of Madras Atomic Power Station.Srinivasan held several key positions of national importance, which included director of the power projects engineering division in DAE and chairman of the Nuclear Power Board wherein he oversaw the planning, execution, and operation of all nuclear power projects across the country.In 1987, he became chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and secretary of the Department of Atomic Energy. In the same year, he also became the founder-chairman of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. Under his leadership, 18 power units were developed.He was awarded a Padma Vibhushan in 2015 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to India’s nuclear energy programme.V S Ramamurthy, former secretary, department of science and technology, called Srinivasan one of the earliest architects of the Department of Atomic Energy. “I consider MRS a walking dictionary of nuclear power in the country,” Ramamurthy told TOI.“In the mid-1980s, MRS was the first one in the country to organise a public debate on nuclear safety, in Bengaluru. His knowledge of the power reactor scenario was fantastic, and Kalpakkam reactor is an example for which he was in-charge then,” he said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled Srinivasan’s passing. “Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr M R Srinivasan, a stalwart of India’s nuclear energy programme. His instrumental role in developing critical nuclear infrastructure has been foundational to our being self-reliant in the energy sector. He is remembered for his inspiring leadership of the Atomic Energy Commission. India will always be grateful to him for advancing scientific progress and mentoring many young scientists.My thoughts are with his family and friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti,” he posted on X.TN governor R N Ravi said said Srinivasan’s visionary leadership and scientific acumen were central to building the nation’s self-sufficiency in nuclear energy. TN chief minister M K Stalin called Srinivasan a “pillar of India’s atomic energy programme” and “a true nation builder”.Srinivasan had made Ooty his home after retirement and divided his time between the hill town and Bengaluru.