Bhubaneswar: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik Friday has announced that the State government will bear the expenses for bringing back sudents and workers of Odisha stranded in Ukraine. Earlier the chief minister had spoken to union home minister over the issue.

The chief minister has also directed that development commissioner-cum-special relief commissioner P.K. Jena to coordinate the overall issue of bringing back Odisha citizens. Besides, the resident commissioner at New Delhi will coordinate with the government of India over this issue.

The chief minister has also directed the district administration to collect information regarding students and workers in Ukraine and effectively coordinate with their family members at this hour of ccrisis.