Artist dies of heart attack on stage

Kendrapada: A veteran stage artist from Jagatsinghpur district suffered a fatal heart attack while performing on stage at Saianta village on Friday night. The actor, Debakanta Mishra, 50, of the village, collapsed on stage leaving fellow artists and audience in shock. Despite immediate medical attention, he could not be revived.A pall of gloom descended on Saianta village and its nearby areas after Debakanta’s death, who was also a lawyer and a cricket commentator. Many locals gathered at Debakanta’s house to console his family members and close relatives. “Debakanta had a passion for acting since childhood. He acted in many plays, dramas, and dance dramas,” said Haripada Mishra, a village and his classmate from school.Saianta and its nearby areas are in mourning. “It is a sad moment. This death has come as a big shock,” said Bharat Dash, a villager of Saianta. Jagatsinghpur MLA Amarendra Das, former Jagatsinghpur MLA Prasant Muduli, president of District Lawyers’ Association Subash Bhusan Mohapatra and vice-president Saroj Biswal have condoled his death.