A file picture of Gangadhar Pradhan and shattered glass at the private hospital in Bhubaneswar after it was ransacked by irate disciples of Pradhan, who died here in the wee hours on Monday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar; Oct. 11: Students and followers of Odissi guru Gangadhar Pradhan allegedly went on a rampage at Apollo hospital here today smashing computers, LCD TV sets and glass doors within hours of the dance maestro’s death being announced by the hospital authorities.

The violence followed allegations that the 62-year-old Odissi exponent, who was admitted to the hospital on October 2, died because of the negligence of doctors at the hospital. Police detained 11 persons in connection with the incident. They were later released following a sit-in by students of the guru on Sachivalaya Marg. They refused to allow Pradhan’s body to be carried to the crematorium until those detained were released.

While hospital authorities filed an FIR with the Shaheed Nagar police in connection with the violence, Pradhan’s family lodged a complaint with the police alleging negligence in the guru’s treatment.

Sibashis Pradhan, the maestro’s son, said he was not aware of the violence at the hospital but alleged negligence in the treatment of his father at the hospital.

“My father was admitted to the hospital with complaints of chest pain and headache. The doctors first conducted an angioplasty and then performed heart surgery. His condition was not serious when he was admitted, but it deteriorated after the surgery and he died,” he alleged.

The death of the Odissi ace was announced around 3.45am but the trouble began in the morning when students and followers of the guru started to gather at the hospital. Hospital security guards alleged that around 7am, more than a hundred people had congregated in the lobby. The mob then suddenly started smashing computers and TV sets. The violence continued for around an hour during which the body of the dance guru was in the morgue.

Alleging that property worth over Rs 1 crore was destroyed, hospital sources said the rampaging mob smashed around 20 computers besides LCD TV sets and glass doors. They also ransacked the optical centre and the pharmacy adjoining the lobby.

Apollo’s chief executive officer, Pankaj Mankad, denied allegations of neglect. He said doctors had tried their best to save the guru, with a team of experts including cardiologists and neurosurgeons attending on him.

The last rites of the guru, who was credited with popularising Odissi, were performed near Natmandap in Konark. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik and governor M.C. Bhandare condoled the death of Pradhan, who served as the president of Orissa State Sangeet Natak Akademi during 2006-07.

Born in Puri district, the guru, who trained as a Gotipua dancer as a child, was the moving force behind major festivals like the Konark Dance and Music Festival, Dhauli Mahotsava and Kalinga Kala Utsav.