BHUBANESHWAR:  Following the death of Odisha's health minister Naba Kishore Das,  State Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today allocated his portfolio to cabinet member Niranjan Pujari.

According to a statement released by the chief minister's office, the CM ordered Finance and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Niranjan Pujari to further take control of the Health and Family Welfare Department with the agreement of Governor Prof Ganeshi Lal.

Naba Kishore Das, aged 60, was shot at Brajrajnagar town yesterday by an assistant sub-inspector of Police, who is believed to be suffering from a mental disorder. The minister was holding the health portfolio since May 2019.

Assistant sub-inspector Gopal Das reportedly opened fire at Das while he was at Brajrajnagar in Jharsuguda district. ASI Das was posted at the Gandhi Chowk police outpost in the town. Videos have been circulated showing aides rushing a severely injured Das into a vehicle. He succumbed to his injuries in a hospital.

After Das's passing, there are now only 21 members left in the council of state ministers.

The Odisha government on Sunday evening had announced 3-day mourning across state as a mark of respect to the departed minister. There will be no official entertainment for 3 days from January 29-31 throughout the state, a notification said.

Odisha Minister Naba Kisore Das after being shot at by Police

Odisha Health Minister shot in chest, hospitalized in critical condition