Panda interacts with chief minister Tarun Gogoi at GMCH last week. Telegraph picture

Guwahati, Jan. 2: The Prime Minister’s heart surgeon Ramakant Panda has conquered hearts even in the time of death in Assam.

Panda today said he was taking the responsibility to bring up the two daughters of his driver, Ravi Sonar, who died at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital this morning. The family members of Sonar, who lost their sole bread earner, termed the gesture as the supreme example of humanity.

The 45-year-old Sonar suffered multiple abdominal and chest injuries in a road accident at Samaguri in Nagaon district, when he was driving the car carrying Panda and his son and daughter to Kaziranga National Park on December 27. Sonar lost his battle with life at 7.50am at the intensive care unit of GMCH.

Panda, who was a state guest, and his son, Swasat, suffered minor injuries in the accident.

Ziaur Rahman, relationship manager of Asian Heart Institute, told The Telegraph that Panda called him soon after Sonar breathed his last and informed him that he would take full responsibility, like bearing the education and other expenses of the deceased’s daughters till their marriage.

Rahman said while Sonar’s elder daughter Arati is studying in Class X, the younger one, Anjali, is a Class IV student.

“Panda sir told me to convey to the family of Sonar that whatever happened it was destiny. So we should now take care of those who are surviving. He had even personally talked to Sonar’s elder brother and expressed his deep condolences,” he said.

Panda, who had conducted a heart surgery on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2009 and on chief minister Tarun Gogoi last year, has so far performed over 12,000 coronary artery bypass graft surgeries and over 700 bypass surgeries.

He was conferred Padma Bhushan, the country’s highest civilian award, last year. The cardiac surgeon is also the vice-chairman and managing director of the Asian Heart Institute, Mumbai.

Boby Sonar, the deceased’s wife who stays in Dispur, said for her family Panda is next to the God and would ever remain grateful for his help.

“The Almighty has taken away my husband and at the same he has also sent Panda sir’s help to my family. This is the only consolation for me and my daughters,” Boby said with tears in her eyes.

GMCH superintendent Ramen Talukdar said Sonar’s injuries were severe since he had to bear the full impact of the collision with a truck. He said Sonar was also operated upon on the day of the accident since he was bleeding profusely.