Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has sanctioned ex-gratia for the kin of two journalists recently succumbed to the COVID-19 in the State, informed Odisha Government's Media Advisor Manas Mangaraj today.

Earlier, the Government had announced Rs 15 lakh compassionate assistance to families of journalists, who may lose life to COVID-19 infection.

As per media reports, three journalists have died of coronavirus in the State so far.

Priyadarshi Patnaik, a resident of Hinjili area of Ganjam district, was the first journalist, who died of the deadly disease while undergoing treatment at a COVID hospital on July 11 in Bhubaneswar.

Next day, K. CH. Ratnam of Gajapati district lost his life to the virus. He died under treatment at a COVID hospital in Bhubaneswar. His death was reported on July 12.

Two days later, death of another journalist identified as Simanchal Panda from Ganjam district was reported in media. He was working with a weekly Odia magazine.