Mumbai, July 3 (IANS) Eminent industrialist and Birla Group patriarch, Basant Kumar Birla, passed away here on Wednesday afternoon following a brief illness, official sources said. He was 98.

He is survived by his daughters Jayshree Mohta and Manjushree Khaitan and grandson, Kumarmangalam Birla, the Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group.

The youngest son of the legendary industrialist and philanthropist, Ghanshyam Das Birla, B. K. Birla had joined active business at the age of 15.

Later he became the chairman of Kesoram Industries, Century Textiles, KC Trust and associated with various educational institutions.

His funeral will be held in Kolkata on Thursday, according to the sources.

--IANS qn/vd