Bhubaneswar: Eminent neurosurgeon and Padma Shri awardee Professor Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, who led the historic medical team that successfully separated conjoined twins Jaga and Balia in 2017, died on Monday evening while undergoing treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi. He was 73.
Mahapatra, a distinguished medical professional who also served as the director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, had been unwell for some time. He was initially admitted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar after complaining of a headache. As his condition deteriorated, he was shifted to AIIMS, New Delhi, on October 2 for advanced treatment.
His death has triggered an outpouring of grief across Odisha’s medical fraternity and political circles, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and several other prominent personalities expressing their condolences.
Describing his demise as an irreparable loss to the medical fraternity, Majhi said Mahapatra had made outstanding contributions to medical science and healthcare services, bringing laurels to Odisha and the country.
“I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of eminent physician and Padma Shri awardee Professor (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Mahapatra. As a distinguished neurosurgeon and a leading figure in the field of medical science, he greatly enriched healthcare services and brought pride to Odisha as well as the entire nation,” the Chief Minister posted on social media.
Born in Odisha, Mahapatra rose from humble beginnings to become one of India’s most respected neurosurgeons. He completed his schooling in Biranarasinghpur village in Puri district and pursued his intermediate science studies at SCS College, Puri. He subsequently obtained his MBBS degree from MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, before completing his postgraduate studies at AIIMS, New Delhi.
He spent nearly 36 years at AIIMS, New Delhi, serving in various capacities and eventually heading its Department of Neurosurgery. His distinguished career also included a stint as director of the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow, from 2006 to 2009.
In 2012, he returned to Odisha to take charge as the director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, a key central government healthcare institution established to strengthen advanced medical services in the state. He held the position until 2016 before returning to AIIMS, New Delhi.
Mahapatra earned national recognition for leading the complex surgical separation of conjoined twins Jaga and Balia, from Kandhamal district, at AIIMS, New Delhi, in October 2017. The highly challenging operation, which involved a multidisciplinary team of specialists, was hailed as a landmark achievement in India’s medical history.
His contributions to neurosurgery and medical education were recognised with the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honours.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
