Bhubaneswar: On Friday, opposition parties in Odisha condemned the BJP for its lack of sufficient preparations to manage cyclone ‘Arnab’, despite warnings of heavy rainfall and potential flooding in various regions of the state.
During a press conference in Bhubaneswar, Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik stated that if the state government had implemented preventive measures beforehand, the damage inflicted by the cyclone in numerous districts could have been mitigated.
“The BJP government failed to make adequate preparation to tackle the cyclone and flood situation in Ganjam and Gajapati districts, despite advance warnings issued by the IMD regarding heavy rainfall and the possibility of flooding,” she said.
She further accused the government of prioritizing publicity over addressing the hardships faced by the populace.
According to Mallik, the Odisha government should have focused on managing reservoirs, ensuring proper drainage, and repairing at-risk river embankments.
“Several river embankments in Ganjam and Gajapati had already been damaged due to illegal sand mining, which contributed to the devastating flood situation,” Mallik, a former minister, claimed.
She criticized the government’s response, noting that while thousands of residents were stranded, only a single helicopter was deployed to evacuate a handful of individuals, labeling this as a mere publicity stunt.
In response, BJD leader Pratap Jena pointed out that many families affected by the floods were still awaiting relief supplies.
“The government must immediately expedite rescue and relief operations, and provide assistance to all flood-affected people without any discrimination. Cooked food, safe drinking water, and essential commodities must be distributed in a timely manner,” Jena stated.
Jena warned that if the state government continued to overlook the needs of those impacted by the floods, the BJD would escalate its democratic protests against the administration.
Transport Minister B B Jena countered the BJD’s accusations, asserting that the administration was doing everything possible to assist the affected citizens despite the challenging circumstances.
“It is not acceptable to criticise the administration at this juncture when officials are working round the clock to help the flood-affected people,” Jena said.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) called for immediate relief efforts, thorough damage assessments, compensation, and accountability from the state government regarding the flooding in Ganjam district.
The CPI Odisha State Council urged the declaration of the flood as a national disaster, seeking special central assistance for rehabilitation.
Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition and BJD president Naveen Patnaik reached out to Ganjam District Collector V Keerthi Vasan to inquire about the flood situation in his constituency, which includes Hinjili and Sheragada, as well as other areas in the district.
Patnaik also dispatched a party delegation led by Mallik to Ganjam to connect with affected residents, instructing party members to provide support.
The delegation is expected to submit a comprehensive report to Patnaik.
The CPI(M) Odisha State Secretariat announced that a delegation, led by senior leader Ali Kishore Patnaik, would visit the hardest-hit areas of Ganjam and Gajapati to evaluate the damage and meet with affected families.
Cyclone ‘Arnab’ caused widespread destruction in several regions of Odisha on Thursday, with Ganjam being the most severely impacted, followed by Gajapati and Kandhamal, according to officials.
