Bhubaneswar, Nov 3: The mortal remains of Padma Shri awardee Dr Ashok Mahapatra, who passed away at AIIMS, New Delhi, will be brought to Odisha on Tuesday. His mortal remains are scheduled to arrive at Bhubaneswar airport by flight at 9:15 AM.

The Odisha government will accord him a Guard of Honour following his arrival. His last rites will subsequently be performed in Puri, his birthplace.

Dr Mahapatra had been suffering from brain cancer. He was shifted to AIIMS, New Delhi, on September 27 for treatment and underwent surgery on October 5. His demise has cast a pall of gloom across the state, with people from different walks of life mourning the loss of the eminent neurosurgeon.

Dr Mahapatra earned national and international recognition for his significant contribution to the complex separation surgery of conjoined twins Jaga and Balia from Kandhamal district of Odisha. His expertise and dedication in the field of neurosurgery brought widespread recognition to the state.

Born in Puri in 1952, Dr Mahapatra enrolled at MKCG Medical College in 1970, where he completed his MBBS. He later pursued higher studies at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and went on to establish himself as a distinguished neurosurgeon. He also served as a faculty member in the Department of Neurosurgery at AIIMS.

His passing marks a significant loss to the medical fraternity, particularly in the field of neurosurgery. His contributions to medical science and his remarkable legacy will be remembered for generations.