Ananda Deb Mukhopadhyay, an emeritus professor at Jadavpur University and former vice-chancellor of Vidyasagar University who was hospitalised after testing positive for Covid-19, died on Thursday morning. He was 82.

Teachers at JU said he was put on ventilation early this week.

Mukhopadhyay did his MSc in geology from JU in 1961 and later did his PhD at the university.

He taught at JU from 1966 to 1998 and served as VC of Vidyasagar University from 1999 to 2003. He was later appointed Emeritus Professor at JU.

Mukhopadhyay also served as chairperson of Digha Development Authority.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said in a condolence message: “Ananda Deb Mukhopadhyay performed his duty as the vice-chancellor of Vidyasagar University with extreme proficiency. He was actively associated with the National Council of Education till his last breath. His death has created a void in the academic sphere of Bengal.”

Parthapratim Roy, the general secretary of the JU Teachers’ Association, said Mukhopadhyay had established the School of Oceanographic Studies, one of the first interdisciplinary schools at the university.

Mukhopadhyay is survived by a son and a daughter. His wife died a few years ago.