CM Patnaik's sister Gita—who authored Karma Cola, A River Sutra, and other books—passed away on Sunday at her Delhi residence due to ailments related to old age. She was 80.

The 'Snake and Ladders' author is survived by her son Aditya Singh Mehta; her husband and publisher Sonny Mehta had predeceased her. 

Odisha CM flew down to Delhi to attend his older sister’s funeral where the somber brother was seen interacting with other mourners. Reportedly, the two shared a close bond.

Bharatiya Janata Party’s senior leader Vasundhara Raje attended the eminent author’s funeral; visuals from her interaction with Odisha CM surfaced online.

'The Eternal Ganesha' author, born in 1943, was also a documentary filmmaker and journalist. She studied in India and later at the University of Cambridge in the UK.