Odisha bids adieu to veteran doctor-turned-politician Raseswari Panigrahi

The final journey of Raseswari Panigrahi began on Tuesday from her residence in Shanti Nagar locality of Sambalpur City, as mourners bid an emotional farewell. Her flower-decked cortege moved towards Rajghat (local cremation ground) amid a solemn atmosphere.

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Hundreds of people from and outside the district gathered in the morning at her residence for a last glimpse of the eminent septuagenarian. Several senior officials, including the District Collector, Police IG, SP, along with politicians, doctors, academicians, residents, and students of Panigrahi from across Western Odisha, joined the funeral procession.

The distinguished gynaecologist-turned-politician passed away at the age of 79 on Monday at around 8.50 PM at her Shanti Nagar home, family sources confirmed. She had been battling Motor Neuron Disease (MND). Her last rites will be performed in Sambalpur today.

Her demise has created a significant void in Odisha’s political, medical, and social service sectors, with tributes pouring in from across Sambalpur, Western Odisha, and the State.

Worth mentioning, the senior doctor had become critical since last evening. She was not even able to speak. She had stopped responding to medical treatment thereafter.

Raseswari Panigrahi, who had represented Sambalpur constituency in the 2014 Legislative Assembly as a member of Biju Janata Dal, had been receiving medical care at home.

Before entering politics, she had a distinguished career in medicine. She had completed her MBBS from Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) in Burla and had joined government service in 1972 as a Gynaecology Specialist. She had begun her medical career at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Sundargarh.

Dr. Panigrahi had been rendering free medical support to the needy and have-nots. Her sincerity, honesty, integrity, straightforwardness and cordial behaviour had endeared her to one and all. A pall of gloom descended on the medical fraternity following her demise.