Cuttack: Noted Indian English poet and Padma Shri awardee Jayanta Mahapatra has been suffering from old age-related complications for the last three days, a source said today.

The elderly man is having a high fever and complained of low heartbeats. He is undergoing treatment in his residence in the city. A team of doctors from SCB Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) led by Cardiology Specialist Professor Dr Biswajit Das have carried out a health checkup.

“If necessity arises, Mahapatra will be admitted to SCBMCH for further treatment,” Das said.

The medical team has given necessary consultations and medicines to the litterateur and some medical tests were advised in the morning for diagnostic purposes.

Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Mayor Subhash Chandra Singh, Standing Committee chairman A Sridevi and several other local people’s representatives have visited the poet.

Worth mentioning, Mahapatra was born on 22nd October 1928. He is the first Indian poet to win Sahitya Akademi Award for English poetry. He is the author of poems such as ‘Indian Summer’ and ‘Hunger’, which are regarded as classics in modern Indian English literature.

The eminent poet was awarded Padma Shri in 2009. However, he returned the award in 2015 protesting against the much-debated and rising intolerance in the country.