Dr Nityanand V Mandke, one of the topmost cardiac surgeons in the country, passed away at 1.55 p.m. today, according to sources in the Hinduja Hospital where he had been admitted since the early hours of Tuesday.

Dr Mandke was driving himself to his residence in Vile Parle at about 2.30 a.m. on Tuesday, when he felt a severe chest pain but managed to reach the Hinduja Hospital. He was almost collapsing when he entered the ICCU of the hospital, his close associates told pharmabiz.com.

After an unequal struggle to survive, Dr Mandke succumbed to a massive heart attack this afternoon. He was aged 54 and is survived by his wife, Dr Alka Mandke, an anesthesiologist and two daughters, who are also doctors.