Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday, 5 November held detailed discussions with legislators from Ganjam district over the extensive damage caused by Cyclone Arnab and the subsequent floods, assuring residents that the state government would ensure they face no further difficulties. The meeting, held at Lok Seva Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, also preceded a separate briefing with a Central assessment team that visited the state to survey the disaster's scale.

Key Discussions at Lok Seva Bhawan

Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari and Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik were present alongside the MLAs, who apprised Chief Minister Majhi in detail of the ground-level damage. 'The state government is fully aware of the situation in Ganjam district and will ensure that the people of the district do not face any difficulties,' Majhi said. He directed Revenue Minister Pujari to take immediate steps to deliver adequate relief and restore infrastructure damaged by the cyclone and floods.

CM Urges Central Team on Long-Term Disaster Measures

Earlier on Thursday, Chief Minister Majhi met the Central assessment team and urged it to recommend not only immediate relief and reconstruction assistance but also long-term measures to address the recurring natural disasters affecting Odisha. Majhi stressed that floods, cyclones, and heatwaves frequently disrupt the state's developmental activities, and that Odisha urgently needed cyclone- and flood-resilient infrastructure to provide lasting protection to its residents.

Central Team's Findings on Ground Damage

The Central team, led by Ravi Shankar, Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, visited Ganjam and Gajapati districts to assess the disaster's impact firsthand. In Ganjam, the overflowing Rushikulya River has inundated several areas, leaving large sand deposits across agricultural fields, roads, houses, and government offices. While many structures have not collapsed, their foundations have been weakened. Ravi Shankar noted that long-term desilting of the Rushikulya River would be necessary, and that a comprehensive damage assessment would take another seven to eight days to complete.

State Government Response Appreciated

Ravi Shankar commended the Odisha government for its prompt response, noting that relief and restoration work had progressed rapidly after the cyclone and floods. He said most roads have been restored to a motorable condition and electricity supply has been reinstated in the affected areas. The Central team's full report, expected within days, is likely to form the basis for financial assistance from the Centre.

What Comes Next

With the Central team's assessment still ongoing, Odisha's recovery timeline will hinge on the recommendations submitted to New Delhi. The push for resilient infrastructure signals that this disaster is prompting a longer-term policy conversation — not just an emergency relief exercise. Ganjam and Gajapati districts, among the worst-affected, will remain under close administrative watch as restoration work continues.