Unfortunate: Prominent Rheumatologist Dr Debashish Danda dies in car accident

Vellore: In an unfortunate 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 tragic car accident on Saturday.  

Dr Debashish, a distinguished figure in the medical community succumbed to his injuries sustained in the accident after his car collided with a container lorry near Vellore. He was recognised worldwide due to his passionate contribution to the field.  

The accident occurred on Saturday while he was travelling from Chennai to Vellore on the Chennai-Bengaluru Highway. When he reached the Alamelurangapuram area near Vellore, his vehicle collided with a container lorry travelling at the same speed, causing the accident.

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After the collision, his vehicle suffered extensive damage, and he succumbed to fatal injuries from severe bleeding. Consequently, the bystanders who witnessed the incident promptly notified the police. Upon arrival, the police conducted an initial inquiry and took possession of his deceased body.

Later, they sent his body to Vellore Government Hospital for post-mortem. A case has been registered in this regard and an investigation is underway, ETV Bharat reports.

The medical community is deeply saddened by the loss of a highly esteemed figure in the field of Rheumatology. Professionals from across the globe have extended their condolences to his family and are grieving the loss.

He is survived by his wife Dr Sumita Danda, head of the Clinical Genetics Department at CMC Vellore, and son Asheerwad Danda who is pursuing his college education. He was a native of Satchand village of Sabroom under South Tripura district.

After taking retirement on Oct 28 from CMC Vellore, Dr Debashish joined the Narayana Health Institute, Bengaluru. He completed his MBBS from Jipmer, Puducherry, MD in Internal Medicine from GSVM Medical College, Kanpur and a 3-year post-doctoral degree (DM) in Clinical Immunology from SGPGIMS, Lucknow. Later, he joined the faculty of medicine at CMC Vellore in 1996.

He set up the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at CMC and was editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases. He was the president of APLAR (Asia Pacific League of Associations For Rheumatology) and past president of the Indian Rheumatology Association. 

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