Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday described as a personal loss the death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and said he was a role model and an outstanding leader with a tireless commitment to serve the people.

In his condolence message to Reddy's widow Vijaya Lakshmi, Singh said Reddy worked for the masses, especially the poor and under-privileged, and described him as a "valued colleague on whom I depended for support and ideas". The void would be difficult to fill, he said.