Chennai, July 29 (IANS): BGR Energy Ltd chairman and managing director B.G. Raghupathy passed away in Singapore Sunday night, said the company. He was 59.

In a statement issued here Monday, the company said Raghupathy passed away suddenly around 10 p.m.

"He was on a business visit to Singapore. As per information available, he developed severe stomach ache and was admitted to a hospital where he breathed his last," a senior company official told IANS.

Official expect the body to reach here Tuesday and funeral to be held later in the evening.

A first generation entrepreneur, Raghupathy started his business as GEA Energy Systems which later became BGR Energy.

The company grew fast but without attracting much notice and soon became a noted player in the engineering- procurement-construction (EPC) company in the power sector.

Raghupathy's big time came when BGR Energy signed joint venture agreement with Japanese Hitachi group to become an integrated power equipment player with boiler and turbine manufacturing facilities.

A soft-spoken man, Raghupathy was generally media shy though he would not dodge any media questions and answer them but with a request not to publish them.

He is survived by his wife Sasikala, three daughters and one son.