Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Eminent neurosurgeon and Padma Shri awardee Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Mahapatra passed away at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, on Monday evening. He was 74.
According to reports, Dr Mahapatra breathed his last at around 9:15 pm while undergoing treatment for a brain stroke at AIIMS, where he had been admitted since October 2.
The eminent doctor was initially admitted to a hospital in Bhubaneswar after complaining of severe head pain. However, following a deterioration in his health condition, he was shifted to AIIMS, New Delhi, for advanced medical treatment under the supervision of a team of specialists.
Dr Mahapatra was one of India’s most distinguished neurosurgeons, whose contributions to the field of neuroscience, medical education and healthcare administration earned him national and international recognition. The Government of India honoured him with the prestigious Padma Shri in 2025 for his contributions to medicine.
He is particularly remembered for leading the historic surgical separation of Odisha’s conjoined twins, Jaga and Kalia, at AIIMS, New Delhi, in 2017. The highly complex procedure brought international attention to India’s advancements in neurosurgery and became a landmark achievement in the country’s medical history.
Born on December 29, 1952, in Puri, Odisha, Dr Mahapatra completed his MBBS from MKCG Medical College before pursuing MS and MCh in Neurosurgery from AIIMS, New Delhi. He subsequently served as a faculty member in the Department of Neurosurgery at AIIMS Delhi for over three decades, rising to become Professor and Senior Professor.
He also served as Director of the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), Lucknow, and later became the founding Director of AIIMS Bhubaneswar in 2012. His leadership played a significant role in establishing the institution and expanding its academic and clinical infrastructure.
His passing marks a significant loss to Odisha’s medical fraternity and the country’s healthcare sector. Remembered for his pioneering work in neurosurgery, medical research and institution-building, Dr Mahapatra leaves behind a remarkable legacy in Indian medicine.
