Balia, aged 5, one of the conjoined twins from Kandhamal who was separated from his brother following a marathon surgery at All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi, three years ago, passed away at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, on Wednesday. He was cremated on Thursday at his native village Milupada in Kandhamal.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik conveyed his condolences to the family and said that despite the best efforts of the doctors the child could not be saved.

“May god give strength to the bereaved family members in this difficult time,” said Naveen.

The twins were joined at the head since birth. Later on the initiative of the Odisha government, a marathon surgery was conducted at AIIMS, New Delhi, in 2017 to separate the craniopagus twins. After their separation, they remained in AIIMS for two years. In 2019 they came to Odisha and were under the constant supervision of doctors.