BJD team visits flood-hit areas in Odisha's Ganjam district
A delegation including Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik assessed damage to houses, infrastructure and farmlands in Chikiti and Patrapur blocks.
A fact-finding team from the BJD visited flood-hit areas of Chikiti and Patrapur blocks in Ganjam district on Saturday, according to The New Indian Express. The delegation sought to assess damage and gather information regarding the hardships faced by residents.
The team included Opposition chief whip Pramila Mallik and former ministers Tukuni Sahu, Pratap Jena, Srikant Sahu and Usha Devi. They visited several border villages, including Maishanpur, Sural, Kesharipada, Barang and Khambarigaon, to inspect damaged houses, roads, agricultural fields and river embankments.
The delegation noted that water levels in the Bahuda and Padmatala rivers remain high, causing fear of further flooding in riverside villages. Villagers told the team that electricity and drinking water supplies are disrupted in several areas.
The leaders described the Rs 20 crore financial assistance announced by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi for Ganjam district as inadequate. They also raised concerns regarding reports that residents of Tutipur repaired the Sitasagar reservoir embankment on their own.
The team will submit a report on their findings to party president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik.