BJD blames Odisha govt for Ganjam floods, alleges reservoir mismanagement after Cyclone Arnab
Synopsis
The BJD is calling Odisha's Ganjam floods a man-made disaster — alleging that reservoirs were left 80% full despite cyclone warnings issued nine days earlier, then released without warning. The charge puts the ruling BJP's Water Resources Department directly in the dock and raises uncomfortable questions about whether standard flood protocols were followed.
Key Takeaways
BJD alleged on 2 November 2026 that the Odisha government and Water Resources Department failed to manage reservoirs ahead of Cyclone Arnab .
Bhanjanagar , Sorada , and Dhanei reservoirs were reportedly 80 per cent full on 28 October ; gates were opened only after heavy rainfall with no prior warning to residents.
Cyclone warnings had been issued as early as 23 October , with a red alert for Ganjam and Gajapati districts.
Ganjam , Kandhamal , and Gajapati districts are affected, with lakhs of people enduring severe hardships.
BJD leader Sujata Rout Karthikeyan questioned why pre-emptive water discharge — a standard operating procedure — was not carried out.
The Odisha government has not yet officially responded to the reservoir management allegations.
The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday, 2 November 2026 launched a sharp attack on the Odisha government over the widespread flooding in Ganjam district, alleging that administrative negligence and failure to pre-release water from reservoirs ahead of Cyclone Arnab turned a natural calamity into a man-made disaster. The party said lakhs of people across Ganjam, Kandhamal, and Gajapati districts are enduring severe hardships.
What the BJD Alleged
BJD leader and former bureaucrat Sujata Rout Karthikeyan wrote on her X handle that cyclone warnings had been issued as early as 23 October, forecasting heavy rainfall across southern Odisha between 27 and 29 October. A red alert had also been issued specifically for Ganjam and Gajapati districts well in advance.
Despite this, Karthikeyan alleged, the Bhanjanagar, Sorada, and Dhanei reservoirs were nearly 80 per cent full on 28 October. Their gates were reportedly opened only after a sudden surge in water inflow following the heavy rainfall — and without any prior warning to residents in low-lying areas.
The Human Cost
'As a result of this, a dreadful disaster struck the residents of Ganjam. An unprecedented flood situation arose, causing extensive loss of life and property. Sadly, that wrong decision caused untold misery and immense loss to lakhs of people,' Karthikeyan alleged in her post.
The BJD also criticised the administration for its failure to reach many flood-affected people even days after the flooding began. The party said the situation underscored a breakdown in last-mile relief delivery.
Standard Protocol Not Followed, Says BJD
Karthikeyan pointed to the presence of numerous medium-sized reservoirs, hundreds of Minor Irrigation Projects (MIPs), diversion weirs, and check dams in the Rushikulya River basin, arguing that pre-emptive water discharge is a standard operating procedure of the Water Resources Department during flood or cyclone situations.
'However, why was the necessary amount of water not discharged from them in advance? Who is responsible for such inexcusable negligence? Who is responsible for this man-made misery? Will the BJP government answer for the plight of lakhs of people?' she demanded.
Political Context
The BJD, which governed Odisha for over two decades under Naveen Patnaik before losing power, has been intensifying its opposition role. The floods in Ganjam provide the party a significant political opening to question the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s disaster preparedness record. This is not the first time reservoir management has come under scrutiny during cyclone-induced flooding in coastal Odisha; similar allegations surfaced after floods in 2021 and 2022.
What Happens Next
The Odisha government has not yet issued an official response to the BJD's specific allegations regarding reservoir gate operations. Relief and rescue operations are reportedly ongoing across the three affected districts. Pressure is likely to mount on the Water Resources Department to provide a technical account of the decisions taken on 28 October.
Point of View
Reservoir names, fill levels — which distinguishes this from routine opposition rhetoric. If the Water Resources Department cannot produce a credible timeline showing pre-emptive drawdown attempts, the political damage to the BJP in a flood-vulnerable coastal state could be significant. What mainstream coverage risks missing is the structural issue: Odisha has faced this exact reservoir-management criticism after multiple cyclones. The question is not just who made the call on 28 October, but why the standard operating procedure for pre-release appears to have failed again.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the BJD blaming the Odisha government for the Ganjam floods?
The BJD alleges that the state government and Water Resources Department failed to discharge water from reservoirs in advance despite cyclone warnings issued on 23 October. It claims the Bhanjanagar, Sorada, and Dhanei reservoirs were 80 per cent full on 28 October and gates were opened without warning after heavy rainfall, worsening the flood situation.
Which districts in Odisha are affected by the Cyclone Arnab floods?
Ganjam, Kandhamal, and Gajapati districts are reported to be reeling under floods, with lakhs of people facing severe hardship. Ganjam and Gajapati had been placed under a red alert before the cyclone made its impact felt.
What is the standard operating procedure the BJD cited?
BJD leader Sujata Rout Karthikeyan stated that pre-emptive water discharge from reservoirs, weirs, and check dams in the Rushikulya River basin is a standard operating procedure of the Water Resources Department during flood or cyclone situations. She alleged this was not followed ahead of Cyclone Arnab.
Has the Odisha government responded to the BJD's allegations?
As of 2 November 2026, the Odisha government had not issued an official response to the specific allegations about reservoir gate operations. Relief and rescue operations are reportedly continuing across the affected districts.
Who is Sujata Rout Karthikeyan?
Sujata Rout Karthikeyan is a BJD leader and former bureaucrat who posted the allegations on her X handle. She questioned why pre-emptive water discharge was not carried out despite early cyclone warnings and called for government accountability over what she termed 'man-made misery'.
