Sambalpur: Former Odisha MLA and popular doctor Raseswari Panigrahi died on Monday at her residence in Sambalpur district, her doctor said.
She was 79 and unmarried.
Panigrahi was undergoing treatment due to neurological complications. Her condition worsened Sunday when she was in her residence at Shanti Nagar in Sambalpur town.
“As Panigrahi did not want to be hospitalised or put under ventilator, she was under treatment in her home. She was mentally active till Sunday. But today she was feeling drowsy,” the doctor said.
She died around 8.50 pm.
Panigrahi was elected to the state Assembly once from Sambalpur constituency in 2014 from Biju Janata Dal (BJD) ticket. However, she resigned from the BJD in 2024 and decided to stay away from politics.
Panigrahi, a popular Gynaecologist of western Odisha, is known for her dedication, service to humanity, particularly for the poor.
She was associated with many socio-cultural and religious organisations of Sambalpur and felicitated for her contribution to social causes.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, in an X post, said he was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Panigrahi, who was a senior leader from Sambalpur and a distinguished physician.
ବରିଷ୍ଠ ନେତ୍ରୀ, ସମ୍ବଲପୁରର ପୂର୍ବତନ ବିଧାୟିକା ତଥା ବିଶିଷ୍ଟ ଚିକିତ୍ସିକା ଡା. ରାସେଶ୍ୱରୀ ପାଣିଗ୍ରାହୀଙ୍କ ଦେହାନ୍ତ ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣି ଦୁଃଖିତ। ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାର ପ୍ରତି ମୋର ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇବା ସହ ଦିବଙ୍ଗତ ଆତ୍ମାଙ୍କ ଶାନ୍ତି ପାଇଁ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁଛି । ଓଁ ଶାନ୍ତି 🙏 pic.twitter.com/Olc8U0Pqlv
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) February 16, 2026
He conveyed condolences to the bereaved family while praying to Lord Jagannath for the heavenly abode of the departed soul.
The last rites of the former MLA will be conducted Tuesday in presence of family members, relatives and others.
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