Cuttack, Oct 22: India’s athletics fraternity is mourning the reported death of promising young sprinter Mrutyam Jayaram Dondapati in a road accident on the Cuttack highway.

Dondapati, who was among India’s fastest under-23 sprinters in 2025, reportedly met with the accident late at night while travelling with 400-metre runner Malay.

His untimely death has come as a shock to the athletics community, which has expressed condolences to his family, friends, teammates and fellow athletes.

Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi tweeted, "Deeply saddened by the tragic demise of athletes Mrutyam Jayaram Dondapati and Malaya Barik in a road accident. Their untimely passing is a profound loss to Odisha’s sporting fraternity.  My heartfelt condolences to their bereaved families. May Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath grant them strength in this difficult time and eternal peace to the departed souls."

Deeply saddened by the tragic demise of athletes Mrutyam Jayaram Dondapati and Malaya Barik in a road accident. Their untimely passing is a profound loss to Odisha’s sporting fraternity. My heartfelt condolences to their bereaved families. May Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath grant them strength in this difficult time and eternal peace to the departed souls.

— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) October 22, 2026​​​​​​​

The loss of the young sprinter is a heartbreaking moment for Indian athletics. May his soul rest in peace, and may his family and loved ones find strength during this difficult time.