PU Prof dies of cardiac arrest in Rajasthan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 10

Prof RS Loyal (59) of the Department of Geology at Panjab University died of a massive cardiac arrest in Rajgarh (Rajasthan), about 170 km from Hisar. He was on his way to Bikaner on a field trip along with 30 students of MSc (first year) of the department.

According to Prof Naveen Chaudhri, chairperson of the Department of Geology, Professor Loyal complained of chest pain in the morning at a hotel in Rajgarh and a private doctor was called. “By the time, the doctor examined him, he was unconscious. He was rushed to a government hospital there where he was declared brought dead,” said Professor Chaudhri.

Professor Loyal was to retire in March this year. He did his MSc and PhD from the Department of Geology. He was working in the field of paleontology. He started teaching at the PU in 1982. His brother Prof Surinder Singh, who retired from the Department of History, left for Rajgarh to bring back his body. The students will come back on Thursday.

Professor Loyal is survived by two daughters and wife Maninder Kaur, a lawyer at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

“He was a living encyclopedia. He loved teaching and was a knowledgeable person,” said Professor Chaudhri.

Professor Loyal’s father also retired from the PU as a botany professor.