Bhubaneswar, Apr 29 (IANS): Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said the coming few days will be crucial for Odisha as people from other states fighting coronavirus will return to the eastern state.

The Chief Minister requested the Odisha residents to take care of returnees and cooperate with his government in battle against the virus.

Patnaik said a huge number of people will return to their native state from states with high coronavirus positive cases, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and West Bengal.

"They are our people. Only mother and motherland come to mind in difficult time. It is our responsibility to take care of them. The positive cases may rise after their return to the state. However, the situation can be under control if you cooperate with the government," he said.

"Therefore, we need to be alert, keep patience, opt for registration of people returning from outside and support the Odisha government in keeping them in quarantine," said Patnaik.

"A little carelessness can cost us dear. This is a matter of life and death. If 10 per cent of people commit mistakes, problems can grow 100 times," Patnaik said in a video message.

The state government realised that West Bengal returnees are now the new challenge for Odisha after Nizamuddin Markaz as out of total 122 positive cases in Odisha, 50 are West Bengal returnees.

"Earlier, persons with foreign travel history were a major challenge for us. Odisha was the first state to start registration for the oreign returnees. With cooperation of people, we controlled the situation. Later, people who returned from Nizamuddin Markaz posed challenge but we successfully tackled the situation," said Patnaik.

"Now, West Bengal returnees have emerged as the third challenge. Out of the total corona positive cases so far, 50 are West Bengal returnees," he added.