BJD Accuses Odisha Authorities of Late Flood Intervention

Bhubaneswar, August 2 – The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has publicly condemned the Odisha government's sluggish reaction to the floods that have battered the state in recent days. The party contends that the administration only recognized the scale of the disaster after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik concluded a meeting in New Delhi with senior members of the BJP.

BJD officials argue that the peak of the flooding coincided with the chief minister's presence in the capital, resulting in a lack of immediate governmental support for the affected populations. Dr. Lenin Mohanti, serving as the party’s spokesperson, highlighted that repeated warnings from the opposition were ignored despite mounting rainfall that escalated the flood threat.

The opposition’s figures indicate seven deaths, the death of 1,380 livestock, and the inundation of thousands of acres of agricultural land. The BJD emphasized that a faster, coordinated response could have curbed both human casualties and economic damage. “Because of the government's hesitation, residents in the hardest‑hit districts have endured severe hardship,” the party declared.

The party also raised questions about the chief minister’s decision to remain in Delhi with senior BJP leaders, rather than staying with the flood‑stricken populace. While Patnaik later appointed senior ministers to oversee rescue and rehabilitation work in the most affected districts, the BJD argues that timely action could have averted many of the losses.