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Bhubaneswar/New Delhi, Nov 2: Padma Shri awardee and eminent neurosurgeon Dr Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, a pioneering figure in Indian neurosurgery and a key architect of several premier medical institutions, passed away at AIIMS Delhi on Monday. He was 74. According to sources, Dr Mahapatra breathed his last at 9.15 pm at AIIMS, New Delhi. He was suffering from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Born on December 29, 1952, in Puri, Odisha, Dr Mahapatra completed his MBBS from MKCG Medical College in 1975 before pursuing MS and MCh in Neurosurgery from AIIMS Delhi. He served as a faculty member in the Department of Neurosurgery at AIIMS Delhi from 1983 to 2017, becoming Professor in 1996 and Senior Professor in 2004. Distinguished Career During more than four decades in medicine, Dr Mahapatra held several key leadership positions. He served as Director of the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), Lucknow, and went on to become the founder Director

Bhubaneswar, Nov 2: The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has announced strict guidelines for bursting firecrackers across the state ahead Of Diwali. As per the new restrictions, people will be allowed to burst crackers for just two hours, on Diwali. According to the guidelines issued by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board , firecrackers can be burst only between 7 PM and 9 PM. The prescribed noise level must not exceed 125 decibels. The board has also prohibited bursting crackers near hospitals, educational institutions, courts, religious places, parks and gardens to protect public health and maintain peaceful surroundings. Sale and Use of Non-Green Crackers Restricted In a major step towards pollution control, restrictions have been imposed on the production and sale of firecrackers other than approved green crackers. The board has advised consumers to check the CSIR-NEERI green logo and QR code on the packaging before purchasing green crackers. People have also been