Former Odisha Minister Damodar Rout Critical, Hospitalised In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Veteran leader and former Odisha Minister Damodar Rout has been admitted to a hospital in Bhubaneswar in a critical condition.

Sharing this information on Thursday, Rout’s son and MLA Sambit Sambit Routray said that the senior BJD leader had suffered a cardiac arrest on March 18.

The family first rushed the veteran leader to the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar. He was later shifted to a private hospital in the state capital.

Sambit claimed that there was a delay of 15 to 20 minutes in shifting his father to a private hospital. As a result, his brain suffered extensive damage due to lack of oxygen supply to the brain, he claimed.

“My father’s heart started functioning after CPR was given at the private hospital but his brain is not functioning properly. His condition is very critical,” Sambit said, adding that the 82-year-old leader appears to be virtually ‘brain dead’.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wished Rout a quick recovery and good health. “I am concerned to know about the illness of senior party leader and former minister Shrijukta Damodar Raut. Wishing him good health and long life,” the CM wrote in Odia on X.

Capital Hospital Director Laxmidhar Sahu said that the veteran leader was brought to the hospital’s casualty unit two days ago and his oxygen saturation level had dropped. His records also showed that he had stage 5 kidney issues. He was provided oxygen and ECG was also conducted.

Rout had to be shifted to another hospital as the Capital Hospital did not have specialised doctors for kidney-related issues, he added.

It may be noted here that Rout was one of the founding members of BJD. He was earlier closely associated with legendary leader and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.  A seven-time MLA, he  has served as a minister.