Bhubaneswar: Senior photojournalist Ashok Panda died in a road accident at Sakhigopal while on his way to cover the Rath Yatra in Puri on Friday.
Panda (53), was the Chief Staff Photographer of Odia daily Samaya and also contributed photographs to several State level and national newspapers and websites.
The sudden news of his demise has shocked the media fraternity. Many from the industry including members of the Media Cares family have expressed their grief.
ଆମ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଅବିଶ୍ୱସନୀୟ ଓ ଦୁଃଖଦ ଖବର- ବରିଷ୍ଠ ସାମ୍ବାଦିକ ଅଶୋକ ପଣ୍ଡା ରଥଯାତ୍ରା ପାଇଁ ଭୁବନେଶ୍ବରରୁ ପୁରୀ ଯାଉଥିବା ସମୟରେ ସାକ୍ଷୀଗୋପାଳ ଠାରେ ଦୁର୍ଘଟଣାର ଶିକାର ହୋଇ ପ୍ରାଣ ହରାଇଛନ୍ତି ! ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀଜଗନ୍ନାଥ ତାଙ୍କ ଆତ୍ମାକୁ ଶାନ୍ତି ଓ ସଦଗତି ଦିଅନ୍ତୁ। #RIPAshokPanda pic.twitter.com/QrPWclisAU
— Media Cares (@Media_Cares) July 1, 2022
Born in Baisingha, Mayurbhanj, Panda had a Diploma in Photography and Videography from State Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training.
He had started his career as a photojournalist with Eastern Press Agency in 1984. He later joined Samaya in 1996. He had also contributed to The Asian Age, The Times of India, and several other publications.
Panda had received several awards including Best Photographer Award by www.orissadiary.com (2011) and Prerana (2011), Panchama Veda Best Photography Award (2010), Satabdira Kalakara Best Photographer Award (2010).
He has also won the Photography Contest organised by the Ministry of I & B in 2000 and in 2018 received the best photojournalist award at the Odisha Media Conclave.
