Odisha: Parents donate only daughter's organs after losing her in accident, police accord guard of honour

Puri, Nov 14: Even in death, 10-year-old Dibyashi Patra from Odisha's Ganjam district has given others a chance at life. Her family consented to donate her kidney and liver following her death, while police accorded her a guard of honour on Saturday during her last rites at Swargadwar in Puri.

According to a source, Dibyashi succumbed to her injuries at Capital Hospital in Bhubaneswar after battling for her life following a road accident on November 1. She was travelling on a motorcycle with her father, Sangram Patra, when their vehicle was hit by a car near Damana Haat in Bhubaneswar.

Both father and daughter sustained critical injuries in the accident. While Sangram suffered a fracture in his hand and later recovered, Dibyashi remained critical despite medical treatment.

Following her death, her family consented to the donation of her kidney and liver. The organs were donated to help save the lives of others.

A student of DAV Public School in Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, Dibyashi was the only child of Sangram and his wife, who is also a teacher. Her untimely death has left the family devastated.

Her maternal uncle, Debabrata Patra, performed the last rites in the presence of her parents and other family members. The Swargadwar Seva Samiti made arrangements for the cremation, the source added.

As a mark of respect for her contribution through organ donation, police personnel accorded Dibyashi a guard of honour at Swargadwar.

Also Read: Watch video: Kandhamal Headmaster rescued after 14 days, survives on water without food

Odisha's organ donation initiative
The Odisha government has taken several steps to encourage deceased organ donation and recognise the contribution of donor families. The State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO) coordinates deceased-donor organ transplantation in the state.

The government also instituted the Suraj Award in memory of organ donor Suraj Behera to honour families who consent to donate the organs of deceased loved ones. Eligible donor families receive financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

In February 2024, the state government announced that the last rites of deceased donors of organs such as the heart, kidneys, liver, pancreas, lungs and intestines would be conducted with full state honours.