Erstwhile Parlakhemundi King passes away in Odisha

Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deo, head of the erstwhile royal family of Parlakhemundi and former MP, passed away at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar in the wee hours on Friday. He was 76.

Gopinath Gajapati will be given a state funeral at Paralakhemundi on Friday.

Family sources said that he was undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar due to heart-related ailment.

The erstwhile royal was undergoing treatment in Chennai for 6 months, but was later shifted to Bhubaneswar where he had been staying for more than 3 years, the sources said.

Born in 1943, he was elected as Berhampur MP on Congress ticket twice in 1989 and 1991. He later joined BJP and shifted to Biju Janata Dal in 2009.

Political and social leaders from across the spectrum mourned the death of the erstwhile King.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his deep grief at the passing away of Parala Maharaja Gopinath Gajapati Narayan Deo.

The Chief Minister also conveyed his deep sympathy to the bereaved family.

While he will be given a state funeral at Paralakhemundi on Friday, Forest and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh would attend the funeral on behalf of the Chief Minister.IANS