Odisha Ministers Face Public Fury in Bangiriposhi; Police Constable Injured
The Odisha government had dispatched the ministers to gauge the full extent of the destruction and ensure necessary aid reaches the affected areas. However, the volatile reaction from the residents reflects the growing discontent over delayed government intervention in times of crisis.
Bhubaneswar: A visit by two Odisha ministers to assess storm damage in Bangiriposhi took a violent turn on Sunday when a group of agitated locals staged a protest and pelted stones at their convoy, leaving a police constable injured.
Revenue minister Suresh Pujari and urban development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra had travelled to Bangiriposhi to evaluate the destruction caused by the recent Kalbaisakhi storm. The severe storm had left hundreds of houses damaged across several panchayats in the region, prompting the state administration to initiate relief efforts.
The tension erupted after the ministers had completed their assessment and their convoy was on its way back. As the vehicles moved through the affected areas, a crowd of enraged villagers blocked the road and began shouting slogans, expressing their frustration over what they claimed was government apathy. The protest quickly escalated as stones were hurled at the convoy, shattering the windowpanes of one of the minister's cars.
Amid the chaos, a police constable sustained a head injury as security personnel attempted to control the situation. Officers swiftly intervened to disperse the crowd and prevent further violence, but the incident underscored the deep-seated resentment among the villagers.
“Where were they when we needed help the most? We have lost our homes, our belongings, and yet the ministers come only now, just to assess the damage?” questioned a visibly distressed local resident. Many villagers accused the government of arriving too late and failing to provide timely relief to those who had lost everything in the storm.
The Odisha government had dispatched the ministers to gauge the full extent of the destruction and ensure necessary aid reaches the affected areas. However, the volatile reaction from the residents reflects the growing discontent over delayed government intervention in times of crisis.
While authorities have assured swift relief measures, Sunday's unrest serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by disaster-hit communities and the urgent need for proactive governance in disaster management. The situation in Bangiriposhi remains tense, with security personnel closely monitoring developments to prevent further escalation.
