Former Odisha chief secretary Lalat Indu Parija dies at 89

Bhubaneswar: Former Odisha chief secretary Lalat Indu Parija died at a private hospital in Cuttack on Monday, family sources said.

ALSO READ: PM leaves for France to attend G7 Summit, will speak on global issues

He was 89.

Parija was admitted to the hospital with acute chest pain on Saturday, they said.

He was chief secretary of the state twice, first for one month in 1983 and then for a year in 1986.

Son of eminent scientist Dr Pranakrushna Parija, LI Parija was also the captain of Odisha Ranji cricket team.

ALSO READ: Rio de Janeiro: Brazilian troops begin deploying to fight Amazon fires

Condoling his death, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said, "Late Parija was a brilliant administrator and remained a guiding spirit for future administrators in the State".

Patnaik said Parija was an example of efficiency and leadership during his service in many capacities including chairman of OPSC, adding he was also an excellent cricketer.

"His death is a big loss to the State. I expressed deep sympathy for the bereaved family," Patnaik said.

Parija's book, 'Fate Takes a Hand', was released in March this year in which he had written about his 40 years of public life as a government servant.

ALSO READ: Mann Ki Baat: PM calls for mass movement against plastic waste