Koraput: Well-known singer of ‘Desia’ (folk) songs of Koraput district Prasant Samantray passed away on Wednesday night. He was 56.
According to his family sources, Prasant felt uneasy in the evening and was admitted in the local hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was rushed to a hospital in Visakhapatnam. But he breathed his last during treatment. He had suffered a massive heart attack, the hospital sources said.
Prasant, who worked as a Forester, was highly popular among music lovers in the southern Odisha as a singer of folk songs of the area. An amiable and friendly person, Prashant was famous for his voice quality as well as emoting style in singing the songs in local dialect.
The singer, who received accolades and appreciation from different quarters, had several albums to his credit. He was also associated with several local musical troupes. “Dung dunga bajuli re bajuli” and ‘Nasei dela re moke nasei dela” are two of his highly popular numbers.
Eminent personalities from music world as well as local leaders have expressed their condolences on the demise of the singer.
“We lost the Music Legend of Undivided Koraput District today. Deeply saddened at the demise of Koraputia Desia Song Singer Prasant Samantray, who was like my elder brother. Your songs will remain immortal forever,” BJP’s state vice-president Bhrugu Baxipatra said in a tweet.
