Feature: In a tragic turn of events, former minister and veteran of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Damodar Rout, has been declared brain dead. His condition remains critical as he undergoes treatment at a private hospital in the state capital.
The ordeal began on the night of March 18 when Rout suffered a cardiac arrest. He was promptly rushed to the Capital Hospital. However, according to his son Sambit Routray, authorities at the hospital delayed administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which they believe led to the deterioration of his father’s condition.
Speaking to a news channel, Sambit Routray expressed his family’s frustration, laying blame on the Capital Hospital authorities for the delay in providing essential medical intervention. “My father suffered cardiac arrest on March 18 night following which he was rushed to Capital Hospital. However, doctors delayed him in administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to him for which we had to shift him to a private hospital where he has been undergoing treatment. Due to the delay in administering CPR, his condition has become critical and he has been declared brain dead,” he stated.
According to Sambit, the process of shifting his father to the private hospital took 15-20 minutes, during which his brain suffered extensive damage due to the lack of oxygen supply.
Damodar Rout, born on 2 July 1942 (age 81 years), a stalwart in Odisha politics, was one of the founding members of the BJD and worked closely with the party’s founder, Biju Patnaik. With a political career spanning several decades, he served as a seven-time MLA and held ministerial positions in the Odisha government.
In a significant political shift, Rout had later joined the saffron party and contested the assembly election from Balikuda-Erasama constituency.
The news of Damodar Rout’s critical condition and subsequent declaration of brain death has sent shockwaves across the political landscape of Odisha. As his family grapples with this tragic development, questions regarding the circumstances leading to the delay in administering CPR at Capital Hospital loom large. Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter to ascertain accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Meanwhile, colleagues, supporters, and well-wishers of Damodar Rout are offering prayers and support to his family during this challenging time, reflecting on his significant contributions to Odisha’s political arena.
