Bhubaneswar: BJD president and Leader of the Opposition Naveen Patnaik will visit cyclone and flood-ravaged Ganjam district on Saturday, including his home constituency Hinjili, in his first major tour of the affected areas since the disaster, the party said.
According to a post by the BJD on X, Patnaik will visit Hinjili, Sheragada, Aska and Sorada blocks to take stock of the devastation caused by Cyclone Arnab and subsequent floods.
ପୂର୍ବତନ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ତଥା ବିରୋଧୀ ଦଳ ନେତା ଶ୍ରୀ @Naveen_Odisha ଙ୍କ ଆସନ୍ତାକାଲି ଗଞ୍ଜାମ ଗସ୍ତ ପୁର୍ବରୁ ଆୟୋଜନ ସ୍ଥଳର ଭିତ୍ତିଭୂମି ସମୀକ୍ଷା କରିଛନ୍ତି ବିଜେଡିର ବରିଷ୍ଠ ନେତୃବୃନ୍ଦ।
#LokankaSathireBJD #BJDWithOdisha #Ganjam #CycloneArnab #OdishaFloods https://t.co/1fWzDDxwhK
— Biju Janata Dal (@bjd_odisha) November 6, 2026
During the visit, the former chief minister is expected to interact with affected residents, assess damage to houses, crops and infrastructure, and take stock of relief and restoration measures.
Patnaik’s absence from Ganjam during the calamity had drawn criticism from the ruling BJP. A section of residents in Hinjili had also launched a ‘missing person’ poster campaign, demanding that their MLA visit the constituency as people struggled with damaged homes and lost livelihoods.
The BJD chief had earlier expressed concern over the plight of flood-hit people, spoken to the district collector and deputed a party delegation to assess the situation on the ground.
The floods, among the worst to hit Ganjam in recent years, affected all blocks in the district, disrupting road connectivity, damaging houses and severely impacting livelihoods. Relief camps were established, essential supplies distributed and restoration operations initiated, with the situation gradually improving in several areas.
Meanwhile, an eight-member Central team has visited the cyclone and flood-affected areas. The Odisha government has submitted a memorandum seeking Rs 2,526 crore in central assistance for relief, rehabilitation and restoration work in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhakta Charan Das also visited the affected areas of Ganjam on Thursday. During his visit to Aska town, he interacted with residents and business owners to assess losses to properties and livelihoods.
Demanding Rs 5,000 crore in central assistance, Das also sought that the floods be declared a national calamity to ensure comprehensive relief and rehabilitation.
