Orissa CM injured in road accident

Bhubaneswar, Jan 28 (UNI) Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was today injured in a road accident while four others, including two of his security personnel, were seriously wounded near Gohira Chhak, about 15 km from here.

The Chief Minister was proceeding to Jatni in a private car to campaign for his party candidates in the Panchayat elections when the accident occurred.

Police said two people on a two-wheeler hit the pilot vehicle first and then the car in which the Chief Minister was travelling along with Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha Member Dr Prasanna Patsani on the National Highway Number 5 near Gohira Chhak.

Both the car and the pilot vehicle were damaged in the accident.

Dr Patsani, who is also Biju Janata Dal Parliament Member, sustained minor injuries while the two security personnel -- Sub Inspector Birupakhya Das and constable Jajati Rout -- were seriously injured.

Two people on the two-wheeler, Sambi Pattnaik and Debashis Swain, were also critically injured.

All the injured were immediately taken to the Capital Hospital here and then shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Mr Patnaik returned to the capital and cancelled all his election campaign meetings for the day.

UNI