Padma Shri Neurosurgeon Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra Passes Away at 74

Eminent neurosurgeon and Padma Shri awardee Professor Dr. Ashok Kumar Mahapatra passed away at 9:15 pm on Monday while undergoing medical treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. He was 74 years old, though some medical bulletins listed his age as 73. Family sources confirmed the news on Tuesday morning, stating that he breathed his last surrounded by relatives and colleagues at the facility.

The demise of Dr. Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, a neurosurgeon of national distinction, marks the loss of one of India’s most accomplished medical pioneers. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he spearheaded transformative neurological treatments, trained generations of doctors, and led premier medical institutions across the country.

Treatment at AIIMS New Delhi

Dr. Mahapatra was undergoing treatment for age-related ailments at AIIMS New Delhi prior to his death. He had maintained a long association with the premier hospital, where he previously served as a senior faculty member and head of neurosurgery before taking up administrative leadership roles in Odisha.

Family members reported that his medical condition turned critical on Monday evening. Despite intensive intervention by doctors at AIIMS, he died at 9:15 pm. His body will be brought to Odisha for final rites following completion of formalities in New Delhi.

Separation of conjoined twins Jaga and Balia

Dr. Mahapatra achieved global acclaim in 2017 when he successfully led the historic surgery to separate craniopagus conjoined twins Jaga and Balia from Odisha’s Kandhamal district. The twins were fused at the head, sharing critical brain tissue and major blood vessels. It was the first successful craniopagus separation surgery performed in India.

As the chief operating surgeon, the team led by Dr. Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, neurosurgeon and veteran medical administrator, managed a multidisciplinary panel of over 40 specialists at AIIMS New Delhi. The multi-stage procedure lasted over 20 hours and required unprecedented surgical planning, skin grafting, and neuro-vascular separation. Both children survived the procedure, establishing a landmark achievement in Indian surgical history.

Leadership at AIIMS Bhubaneswar and SOA

Beyond his surgical record, Dr. Mahapatra played a key role in building medical education infrastructure in eastern India. He served as the Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar, overseeing its early development into a major tertiary care center. Under his tenure, the hospital expanded its specialized neurosurgery department, trauma care units, and advanced diagnostic facilities.

Following his tenure at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Dr. Mahapatra took over as the Vice-Chancellor of Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed-to-be University in Bhubaneswar. During his leadership at SOA, he expanded research programs, strengthened clinical fellowships, and encouraged affordable healthcare delivery models. For his distinguished service to medical science and public care, he received the Padma Shri award, one of India’s top civilian honors.

State tributes led by CM Mohan Majhi

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief over the veteran doctor’s passing, calling his demise an irreparable loss to the nation’s medical fraternity. Majhi noted that Dr. Mahapatra’s contributions to neurosurgery, medical education, and public service would be remembered for generations.

Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik also paid rich tributes, recalling Dr. Mahapatra’s skill, dedication, and compassionate care toward patients from all walks of life. Senior faculty members at AIIMS New Delhi, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and SOA University held memorial meetings on Tuesday to honor his legacy in Indian medicine.