Visakhapatnam, January 19, 2026: Padma Shri awardee Dr. Sunkara Venkata Adinarayana Rao passed away at his residence in Visakhapatnam on Saturday, January 17, 2026. He was 87 years old.
Dr. Rao was widely respected for his lifelong service to the poor and needy. He was particularly known for helping polio patients. Several well-known personalities expressed sorrow over his demise. These include Gopala Krishna Kosaraju, President of the Waltair Football Association; Prof N Vijay Kumar from Andhra University; Visakha West MLA P G V R Naidu (Ganababu); and K Suryanarayana, General Secretary of the Olympic Association, who paid tributes acknowledging his contributions.
Dr. S.V. Adinarayana Rao was born on June 30, 1939, in Bhimavaram, Dr. Rao had devoted more than four decades to medical service. He completed his M.B.B.S. in 1966 and obtained his Master’s degree in Orthopedic Surgery in 1970 from Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam. Until his death, he served as the Director-General of the Prema Group of Hospitals and Institutions and was also the Managing Trustee of the Free Polio Surgical and Research Foundation.
Over the course of his career, Dr. Rao performed over three lakh surgeries and conducted more than ten lakh operative procedures. He became widely known for treating polio-affected patients across India and was often referred to as “viklang bandhu” and “poliowalon ka devta”. He organized nearly 1,000 orthopedic camps across the country, providing treatment to patients from several Indian states.
In 2022, the Government of India honored Dr. Rao with the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth-highest civilian award, in recognition of his distinguished service to poor polio patients. His other awards include:
National Award from the Prime Minister of India (1988) for welfare work for the disabled
National Award for Child Welfare from the President of India (2014)
Madras Telugu Academy Award
Diwaliben Mohanlal Mehta Award
Mahaveer Foundation National Award
Beyond medicine, Dr. Rao was a committed sports enthusiast. He served as the President of the Visakhapatnam District Football Association for over three decades, playing a key role in promoting football in the region.
Dr. Rao was married to R. Sasiprabha, former Superintendent of King George Hospital. His elder brother, Sunkara Balaparameswara Rao, was a neurosurgeon. His parents, Kanakam and Seshamma, were independence activists, and his father served as a lawyer and also as Sarpanch of Bhimavaram.
After retiring as Superintendent of Rani Chandramani Devi Hospital, Dr. Rao co-founded Prema Hospital at Ramnagar with colleagues and continued his professional work until his final days.
Dr. S. V. Adinarayana Rao’s medical career, institutional leadership, and involvement in sports administration have left a lasting record in Visakhapatnam and beyond.
(Rh/VK)