Bhubaneswar: Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former MP Prasanna Acharya, who was injured after his car collided with a truck on National Highway 55 in Odisha’s Sambalpur district on Thursday, was airlifted to Bhubaneswar on Friday and admitted to a private hospital here.

According to reports, the accident happened late Thursday night. Acharya, his security officer (PSO), and the driver suffered varying degrees of injuries.

Acharya was initially admitted to a private hospital in Sambalpur and shifted to a private hospital on Friday afternoon for better treatment.

Acharya’s PSO told the media that their car collided head-on with a truck when they were returning to Bargarh from Bhubaneswar. They were rushed to the Rairakhol CHC hospital and later shifted to a private hospital in Sambalpur.

“Former minister Prasanna Acharya met with an accident late Thursday night. He has been admitted to a private hospital here. The doctors told me that his condition is stable now. I saw him and he (Acharya) also talked with me. If required, he will be airlifted to Bhubaneswar and we are making arrangements for Air Ambulance for this,” said Akshay Sunil Agrawal, Sambalpur Collector.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed shock and wished a speedy recovery for Acharya. “I am worried to hear that former Rajya Sabha MP and Biju Janata Dal vice-president Prasanna Acharya has met with an accident and is undergoing treatment in a hospital now. I pray for his speedy recovery and a healthy and long life,” the Chief Minister wrote on X.