They were shocked over losing their father and mother at a time in a road accident, but never shied away to fulfil the pledges of their parents. Their parents had earlier decided to donate their eyes as a gift to the visually impaired.
For the 46-year-old Upendra Patri, an employee of Hindustan Aeronautics limited (HAl), September 22 last was the cruelest day for his life as his father Bhagaban Patri (66) and mother Debapriya (60) of Bhagabanpur died in a road accident while going to a relative’s house in a scootey near Kaudikhola chowk on the Paradip-Daitary Expressway. A speeding lorry crushed them under its wheel and later the duo couple died while being shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital.
Patri was deeply shocked over the incident. But soon he remembered the last wishes of his parents of donating their eyes after death. He consulted with doctors and both his other siblings also backed him. The doctors at the SCB appreciated the noble gesture of the bereaved family and arranged for the eye donation. The eyes were taken out within 45 minutes and then the bodies were handed over to the bereaved family for last rites.
“I know my parents would not come back and their loss is a great loss for us .However, I and my two other siblings were happy over the fact that our parents would
remain alive as two visually-impaired persons would be able to see the world with their eyes,” said Patri.