Jatra comedian and popular stage actor Guru Prusty died in a road accident near Chingudipur on National Highway 16 while returning to Bhadrak on a motorcycle on Sunday. He was rushed to the Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Prusty, well-known for his impeccable comic timing and commanding stage presence, had earned widespread admiration in the jatra community from a young age. Over the years, he performed with several leading troupes and became a recognised comedy artiste, entertaining audiences across Odisha.

His untimely demise has cast a pall of gloom over the jatra fraternity, with artistes and colleagues struggling to come to terms with the loss of a rising talent.

Colleagues Recall His Contribution

Fellow jatra artiste Nirakar Dhal expressed shock at the news. “It is definitely a very sad incident. Yesterday was our day off, and I was at home. I was on my way to work when I heard about his demise, so I came here directly,” he said.

Jatra actress Manu Dhal shared similar sentiments. “We heard the news while travelling through Bhadrak and came over to see him. We had gone home since it was our day off yesterday, and then received the news that he had passed away. We do not know much, but in today’s play, he was supposed to perform a role,” she said.

Family Mourns a Promising Talent

A relative of Prusty said the family received information about the incident around 10 pm on Sunday.

“We found out that it happened due to a road accident. He had been working as a jatra artiste for over seven years. He started his career at Rangamal, worked for a year with the Biswadarbar troupe, and then joined Indrabhaban. He lived in Cuttack, though he hailed from the Mahanga region. He is survived by his wife, his three-year-old daughter and his mother,” the relative said.

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Prusty’s sudden death has left a deep void in the jatra world, where he was considered a promising comedy performer with a steadily growing fan base.