Congress leader and former Minister Harihar Karan passed away at a private hospital here on Monday. He was 72. He was under treatment after being diagnosed with septicemia.
Karan was a six-time MLA. He was in politics ever since he was a student. He became a State Congress general secretary. In 1980, he was Health and Family Welfare Minister.
Karan’s son alleged that his shifting from the Apollo Hospitals to another hospital could be the reason behind his death. Karan had been admitted to the Apollo Hospitals three weeks ago and was shifted to another hospital after the Apollo fire mishap which deprived him of ventilator facilities for five hours. His son alleged lack of coordination between the two hospitals.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed deep grief over Karan’s demise.