Jharkhand’s first woman chief secretary Laxmi Singh, who played an instrumental role in the formation of the state, died of cardiac arrest on Saturday at Bhagwan Mahavir Medica Superspecialty Hospital, where she was admitted on March 2.

Singh, 73, was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and carbon dioxide narcosis. She was put on a ventilator following acute shortness of breath.

A hard taskmaster and a feisty administrator, Singh served on several crucial posts in Jharkhand and united Bihar during her illustrious career as an IAS officer. She was the last regional development commissioner of united Bihar and was appointed the chief secretary of Jharkhand in 2003.

After her superannuation in 2004, she held the post of the chairperson of State Commission for Women from September 2006-09. She served as the chairperson of Jharkhand Academic Council from September 2009-12 and helped the council take baby steps to becoming a board with highest number of matriculation and intermediate students in the state.

She also offered honorary service at Cambridge Institute of Technology, Tatisilwai, as its chairperson.