New Delhi: Veteran photojournalist Ravi Brat Bedi, who founded the photo services for PTI and The Times of India, died in New Delhi last night (Oct 19, 2004) after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Bedi, 79, is survived by four daughters and a son, family sources said.

In a career spanning 50 years, the veteran photographer founded the photo services for The Times of India, AFP and PTI.

Beginning his career as a freelance photographer in Lahore in 1945, Bedi joined the Times of India in 1952 to set up the Photo Department for the publication.

He is credited with setting up the wire and photo and pictures services for the AFP from the Indian subcontinent during his tenure at the agency from 1984 to 1986.

In 1987, he joined PTI and was the founder editor of the agency's modern photo department delivering pictures through wire and satellite.

As a news photographer, he covered 14,000 journalistic photo-assignments during 53 years of active service. However, he never held an exhibition.