Ex-Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Panigrahi passes away at 79; Odisha mourns veteran leader

Former MLA of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Raseswari Panigrahi, passed away at 79 on Monday evening at around 8:50 PM while undergoing treatment at her residence in the Shanti Nagar area of Sambalpur district.

Her demise was confirmed by attending doctors and family members. She had been battling serious neurological complications, and her condition had deteriorated since Sunday evening. 

Panigrahi had represented the Sambalpur Assembly constituency in the 2014 Odisha Legislative Assembly after being elected on a BJD ticket. Her entry into active politics came after a long and distinguished career in the medical field.

Accomplished Doctor By Profession

An accomplished doctor by profession, Panigrahi completed her MBBS from Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR). She joined government service in 1972 as a specialist in gynaecology and initially served at the District Headquarters Hospital in Sundargarh.

Also Read: Former BJD MLA Raseswari Panigrahi critically ill, under treatment in Sambalpur

Over the years, she went on to serve as a professor at a medical college, contributing significantly to healthcare and medical education until her retirement. 

Student Of Rourkela

Her academic journey began at Ispat Vidyalaya in Rourkela, followed by higher studies at Gangadhar Meher College in Sambalpur, where she nurtured her ambition to pursue medicine.

 Widely respected as a leading gynaecologist in Western Odisha, Panigrahi’s reputation extended to neighbouring states such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. She was particularly known for providing free medical services to underprivileged patients. 

Her dedication, integrity and compassionate approach earned her immense respect both within the district and beyond. Her passing marks the end of a significant chapter in Odisha’s medical and political spheres.

Condolences Pour In

ବରିଷ୍ଠ ନେତ୍ରୀ, ସମ୍ବଲପୁରର ପୂର୍ବତନ ବିଧାୟିକା ତଥା ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ଚିକିତ୍ସିକା ଡା. ରାସେଶ୍ୱରୀ ପାଣିଗ୍ରାହୀଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ଦିବଙ୍ଗତ ଆତ୍ମାଙ୍କ ଶାନ୍ତି ପାଇଁ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁଛି । ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Olc8U0Pqlv

— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) February 16, 2026

ସମ୍ବଲପୁରର ପୂର୍ବତନ ବିଧାୟିକା ତଥା ନାରୀନେତ୍ରୀ ଡଃ ରାସେଶ୍ବରୀ ପାଣିଗ୍ରାହୀଙ୍କ ବିୟୋଗ ଖବର ଶୁଣି ମୁଁ ଅତ୍ଯନ୍ତ ଦୁଃଖିତ । ତାଙ୍କ ସହିତ ମୋର ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଗତ ତଥା ରାଜନୈତିକ ପରିଚୟ ଥିଲା । ଦିବଙ୍ଗତ ଆତ୍ମାର ସଦଗତି କାମନା କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ବର୍ଗଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ଗଭୀର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଉଛି । ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି 🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/reYBdmlluG

— Baijayant Jay Panda (@PandaJay) February 16, 2026