New Delhi, Jun 22 (IANS): Abid Hussain, a former Indian ambassador to the US and who held a series of senior positions at the centre, died in London Thursday following a massive heart attack. He was 85.

He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter.

Born on December 19, 1926, Hussain was a member of the Indian Administrative Service and served in various capacities at the centre. He was secretary in the heavy industries and commerce ministries and chairman of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. He became a member of the Planning Commission in 1985.

Currently, he was a senior trustee of the Observer Research Foundation and also chancellor of Hyderabad's English and Foreign Languages University, a member of the International Panel on Democracy & Development of UNESCO, Prof Emeritus at Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Prof. Emeritus at the Foreign Service Institute of the external affairs ministry, chairman of the Ghalib Academy and vice president of the Rumi Foundation.

He was a trustee of various prestigious educational, cultural and charitable institutions. He was a member of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco and the B.P. Koirala Foundation and a trustee of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts.

Hussain was honoured with the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian award, in 1988 for meritorious services.