At Nilgiri Sub-Divisional Hospital in Odisha’s Balasore district, Dr. Trinath Pal, a 55-year-old obstetrics and gynaecology specialist, died suddenly while attending patients on November 16, 2025. Reports suggest he suffered a cardiac arrest during working hours.
Dr. Pal reported for work at around 8 a.m. and began examining patients in the OPD. Witnesses said he suddenly complained of intense chest pain. He stepped into the washroom to recover, but when he did not return for several minutes, the security guard, Padmalochan Biswal and other colleagues checked on him. They found him visibly distressed and struggling. Moments later, he collapsed on a bed in the OPD area, sending staff into panic.
Hospital staff responded immediately and called for an ambulance. Dr. Pal was shifted in a 108 emergency vehicle to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital. Despite the urgent transfer, doctors at the facility declared him brought dead. The shock of losing a colleague in the middle of duty left many staff members in tears.
Dr. Amulya Kumar Das, additional DMO at the DHH suggested that Dr. Pal suffered a cardiac arrest. Colleagues later revealed that he had been undergoing treatment for diabetes and heart related concerns. He had also undergone a bypass surgery earlier. Staff members said he returned to work with deep commitment, even while managing his own health challenges, people have been mourning his death all over social media.
Along with his role as a gynaecologist, Dr. Pal also served as the in charge of the hospital’s blood bank. Hospital authorities remembered him as a calm, soft spoken and compassionate doctor who cared deeply for his patients. Many described him as someone who never turned away a patient, even on days when he felt visibly tired.
The news of his death spread quickly across the district, and patients who had been treated by him expressed their grief.
Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi visited Dr. Pal’s family soon after the incident. He offered condolences and called the loss irreparable for both the family and the district’s healthcare system. The hospital management also issued a statement mourning his passing and acknowledging his years of dedicated service.
A cardiologist who had studied with Dr. Pal said that even though doctors understand preventive measures, they often overlook their own health due to workload and stress. Another expert pointed out that age, genetics, lifestyle and high stress levels can increase the risk of sudden cardiac events.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)