Balasore: Eminent painter Debendra Khatua died in a road mishap in Odisha's Balasore town this noon. He was 42 and is survived by wife and a 8-year-old son.

When Khatua was on his way to Balasore town, a private bus named Raghunath from Baripada ran over him near Remuna Golai square. The artist was overtaking a SUV when the bus hit him from the rear.

publive-image

The painter was riding a scooter wen the bus crushed him under its killing him on the spot. He was immediately rushed to the district headquarters hospital (DHH) here, where doctors declared him brought dead. Khatua's body was later sent for post-mortem.

A popular figure in the town here, the artist was felicitated by Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi twice.