Bhubaneswar: Eminent neurosurgeon and Padma Shri awardee Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Mahapatra died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, on Monday evening. He was 74.
He breathed his last at 9.15 pm while undergoing treatment for a brain-related ailment at the premier medical institute.
According to reports, Mahapatra had been undergoing treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi, since October 2. He was initially admitted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar after complaining of a severe headache. As his condition deteriorated, a specialist medical team accompanied him to New Delhi for advanced treatment.
Mahapatra was widely known for leading the historic surgery in 2017 to separate Odisha’s craniopagus (conjoined at the head) twins, Jaga and Balia, at AIIMS, New Delhi. The complex operation brought him national recognition and marked a significant milestone in the country’s medical history.
He also served as the founding Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, playing a key role in establishing the premier medical institution in Odisha.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to neurosurgery and medical education, the Government of India conferred the Padma Shri on him in 2024.
His death is being seen as a major loss to the medical fraternity, particularly in Odisha, where he made significant contributions to healthcare and medical education.
