UK-Based Odia Doctor Dies Of COVID-19

Bhubaneswar: An Odisha-born doctor who was settled in UK succumbed to COVID-19 at a private hospital here on Sunday.

The deceased, Bishnu Mohan Routray (71), was an ENT surgeon at a hospital in Scotland. He along with his wife, Rashmi Routray, and children Rajiv and Sonali had been staying in Scotland after migrating to UK around 40 years ago.

According to reports, Routray had contracted COVID-19 following a visit to Odisha recently. He had been undergoing treatment at the private hospital for around a month before he succumbed to the virus on Sunday.

He was cremated at the Satya Nagar crematorium in the city.

Routray was an active member of Odisha Society of Scotland (OSS), UK and also performed the role of Gajapati Maharaja during Rath Yatra held in Edinburgh.

OSS members expressed deep grief over his demise. “We lost a great human being. I am sure his blessings will always be with us to take the good work forward, which we all started with him through OSS. When we started Rath Yatra in Edinburgh, Lord Jagannath gave him the opportunity to serve the role of Gajapati Maharaja. For us he was the Gajapati Maharaja. Our prayers to Lord Jagannath to bless his soul and give strength to his family to bear this loss,” said an OSS member.