Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik paid his last respects to Dr. Damodar Rout, former Odisha minister and veteran BJD leader who breathed his last while undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Bhubaneswar in the wee hours of Friday.
The Chief Minister visited Shankha Bhawan, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) office in the capital city, and laid a wreath on the departed leader’s body. He was accompanied by 5T and Nabin Odisha Chairman VK Pandian.
Several other leaders cutting across party lines and people from all walks of life visited the Shankha Bhawan to pay their last respects to Damodar Rout.
The mortal remains of Dr Rout, who served as minister of several important departments in Biju Patnaik and Naveen Patnaik Cabinets, have been kept in Shanka Bhawan for his supporters and admirers to pay their last respects to the departed leader. Earlier, his body was taken to the Odisha Assembly premises. A guard of honour was given to Dr Rout on the Assembly premised.
According to reports, Dr Damodar Rout’s body will be taken to his home town Jagatsinghpur in Odisha. His last rites will be performed at Swargadwar crematorium in Puri.
