Bhubaneswar, Dec. 8 -- Jatra comedian and popular stage actor Guru Prusty died in a road accident near Chingudipur on National Highway 16 while returning to Bhadrak on a motorcycle on Sunday. He was rushed to the Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Prusty, well-known for his impeccable comic timing and commanding stage presence, had earned widespread admiration in the jatra community from a young age. Over the years, he performed with several leading troupes and became a recognised comedy artiste, entertaining audiences across Odisha.

His untimely demise has cast a pall of gloom over the jatra fraternity, with artistes and colleagues struggling to come to terms with the loss of a rising talent.

Fell...