Naveen Patnaik Demands Relief and Accountability for Ganjam Flood Victims
Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to ensure immediate relief, rehabilitation, and accountability following the devastating floods that affected large parts of Ganjam district.
According to reports, Patnaik raised serious concerns over the handling of the flood situation and called for a comprehensive assessment of the losses suffered by affected residents.
After visiting flood-hit areas including Hinjili, Sheragada, Aska, and Sorada, Patnaik said thousands of residents had been affected by the disaster, with extensive damage reported to homes, agricultural land, public infrastructure, and livelihoods.
He stressed the need for swift government intervention to assist families struggling to recover from the catastrophe.
In his communication to the Chief Minister, the BJD president alleged that the scale of the flooding was aggravated by administrative lapses.
He claimed that despite advance weather warnings, authorities failed to take timely preventive measures, resulting in severe hardship for people living in vulnerable areas.
Patnaik also questioned the management of reservoir water releases, stating that residents received inadequate warning before floodwaters inundated villages and towns.
He called for a transparent inquiry to identify lapses and fix responsibility wherever negligence is found.
Highlighting the plight of affected communities, Patnaik said many residents remained stranded for days and faced shortages of essential supplies.
He emphasised the importance of providing adequate compensation to farmers, small traders, and other vulnerable groups whose livelihoods have been severely impacted.
The former Chief Minister further urged the government to strengthen disaster response mechanisms and restore confidence among flood-affected citizens through effective relief and rehabilitation measures.
The floods, triggered by extremely heavy rainfall associated with Cyclone Arnab, caused rivers to swell beyond danger levels, leading to widespread inundation across parts of southern Odisha.
Rescue and evacuation operations were carried out by multiple agencies as authorities worked to assist affected residents.
The issue has since sparked a political debate, with the opposition demanding accountability for the disaster response while the government points to the unprecedented nature of the rainfall event.
