In a tragic incident, Dr. Debashish Danda, a 60-year-old renowned rheumatologist and retired professor in the Rheumatology Department of Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore, died in a car accident on Saturday.
Dr. Debashish, a prominent figure in the medical community, succumbed to injuries sustained in the accident after his car collided with a container truck near Vellore. He was recognized worldwide due to his passionate contribution to the field.
The accident took place on Saturday while he was traveling from Chennai to Vellore on the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway. When he reached the Alamelurangapuram area near Vellore, his vehicle collided with a container truck traveling at the same speed, causing the accident.
After the collision, Dr. Debashish’s vehicle suffered extensive damage, and he succumbed to lethal injuries from severe bleeding. Subsequently, the bystanders who witnessed the incident promptly notified the police. Upon reaching the site, the police conducted an initial inquiry and took possession of his deceased body.
Then, police sent his body to Vellore Government Hospital for a post-mortem. A case has been lodged in this regard, and an investigation is in progress.
The medical community is deeply grieved by the loss of a highly esteemed figure in the field of rheumatology. Professionals from across the world have extended their condolences to his family and are grieving the loss.
He is survived by his wife, Dr. Sumita Danda, who is the head of the Clinical Genetics Department at the same hospital, CMC Vellore, and his son, Asheerwad Danda, who is pursuing his college education. Dr. Debashish Danda was a native of Satchand village, Sabroom, in South Tripura district.
On October 28, after taking retirement from CMC Vellore, Dr. Debashish joined the Narayana Health Institute, Bengaluru. He completed his MBBS from JIPMER, Puducherry, his MD in Internal Medicine from GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, and his 3-year post-doctoral degree (DM) in Clinical Immunology from SGPGIMS, Lucknow. Afterwards, in 1996, he joined the faculty of medicine at CMC Vellore.
He founded the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at CMC. Moreover, he was editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases. Apart from this, he was the president of APLAR (the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology) and the former president of the Indian Rheumatology Association.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Komal Bhoi/MSM)