Bhubaneswar, March 22 -- Veteran Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former Odisha Minister Damodar Rout passed away at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Friday morning. He was 83.

As per reports, Rout breathed his last at 5:23am this morning.

Sources said, his body will be taken to his government residence at Unit-6 in Bhubaneswar where his well wishers will pay their last respect to the leader.

Family members today informed that the seven-time MLA suffered a cardiac arrest on March 18. He was immediately rushed to Capital Hospital and was later shifted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.

On Thursday, Rout's son Sambit Routray levelled allegations of negligence by Capital Hospital of not providing CPR despite requests. However, the...