Veteran athlete Debanand Patra 90, has passed away after a brief illness at his home in Phulbani town in Kandhamal district of Odisha.
Patra, who was also a retired police officer is survived by three daughters and two sons.
Quoting Phulbani Municipality Executive Officer Baladev Behera news agency PTO reported that he had tested positive for COVID-19 a few days earlier and was undergoing treatment at his home.
He had participated in national events in various categories of athletics and was felicitated by the state government and Kandhamal district administration.