By NJ Thakuria

Guwahati: Assam in northeast India has lost a dedicated theatre director, actor and journalist  Dipak Mahanta in a tragic accident.

Mahanta was on his return journey from Tejpur after a shooting schedule, when the vehicle he was traveling in with few other colleagues met with an accident at Deoshal locality of Jagiroad in the midnight of Wednesday.

Seriously wounded Mahanta was taken to Guwahati Medical College Hospital, but the attending doctors declared him brought dead. The accompanying three television employees namely Ajmir Saikia, Pradesh Rabha and Atul Morang also sustained injuries but they are stated to be out of danger.

Journalists paying floral tribute on the mortal remains of Senior journalist and Dramatist, Deepak Mahanta at Guwahati Press Club on Thursday. Deepak Mahanta died in a road accident at Jagirod while coming from Tezpur on Wednesday Midnight.

Born in 1961 at Tejpur, Mahanta was a creative theatre director, skilled performer, serious playwright and a script writer with humoristic touch. Some of his plays namely ‘Ulanga Roja’, ‘Malati Mem’, ‘Holi’, ‘Pinhole Camera’, ‘Gajapuria’ etc are well appreciated by the theatre appreciators across the region.

Lately Mahanta joined in the field of professional journalism and shifted to Guwahati from Tezpur, his original workplace. Started his television journalism career with News Time Assam, a newly launched satellite news channel, Mahanta lately joined another new channel Assam Talks, as a senior producer.

Mahanta left behind his wife, son with host of relatives and well-wishers. Media organizations across Assam have expressed shock at his untimely death and sent condolence message to the bereaved family.

Prior to his last journey to Tejpur for cremation, he was paid rich tributes at office of Pratidin Time (formerly News Time Assam), Guwahati Press Club and Assam Talks.