Odisha Leaders Skip Diwali Amid Cyclone Arnab Recovery

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and opposition leader Naveen Patnaik both cancelled their Diwali celebrations to show solidarity with victims of Cyclone Arnab. The storm made landfall in Andhra Pradesh on October 28, triggering devastating floods and landslides across Odisha's Ganjam, Gajapati, and Kandhamal districts. The disaster resulted in six deaths, left 10 people missing, and impacted 1.18 lakh people, including the total destruction of Gidipabali village in Kandhamal.

Majhi cancelled festivities at his residence and appealed to the public to remain sensitive and provide assistance to those affected. Meanwhile, Patnaik visited the Sheragada, Asika, and Sorada areas of Ganjam district to assess damage to paddy and sugarcane crops and demand expedited government assistance for displaced families.

The recovery effort has been marked by political friction. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party accused Patnaik of abandoning his constituency, with some areas displaying posters depicting him as missing. In response, the Biju Janata Dal criticized the government for a lack of proper disaster planning and a lackadaisical administrative response despite warnings of heavy rain.