Senior journalist and social worker Dhirendra Rout passed away on Sunday while under treatment at a private nursing home in Cuttack. He was 64.
Rout, popularly known as Kandri Bhai, had been admitted to the Ranki Covid Hospital, Keonjhar after being tested Covid positive.
After found negative, he was discharged and was under home quarantine. But he was again found positive and readmitted in the Ranki hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was referred to the KIMS, Bhubaneswar. Although he became Covid-free there, his other ailments like cold and cough continued and he took admission in the Shanti private nursing home at Cuttack.Rout was involved in various social and cultural activities in Keonjhar.
He was president of the Cassandra Cultural Club and the Keonjhar Progressive Citizens’ Forum, general secretary of Radha Krishna Temple, vice-president of Kali Temple, president of the Keonjhar Central Cooperative Bank Employees’ Union, President of Keonjhar College Students ' Union during his student time.After his death news spread, condolence messages from different quarters poured in.