Photojournalist Ashok Panda on way to cover Rath Yatra dies in road mishap

Bhubaneswar: Senior photojournalist Ashok Panda died in a road mishap while he was on his way to Puri to cover the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath today.

Ashok Panda died while undergoing treatment at the Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar. He was 57.

Panda was heading towards Puri on his motorcycle to cover the annual Ratha Yatra 2022 in wee hours today. At around 5 am, an unknown vehicle hit his motorcycle near Satasankha and fled the spot.

The photojournalist was rushed to the Capital Hospital in a critical condition where he succumbed to his injuries.

Panda belongs to Baisinga village in Mayurbhanj district.

Ashok Panda was associated with several news organisations including ‘Samay’, ‘The Asian Age’ and ‘The Times of India’.