Bhubaneswar, Nov 6: BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik will visit cyclone and flood-ravaged Ganjam district on Saturday to assess the damage caused by Cyclone Arnab and subsequent floods. This will be his first major visit to the affected areas since the disaster.

According to an announcement by the BJD on X, Patnaik will visit Hinjili, his home constituency, along with Sheragada, Aska and Sorada blocks. During the tour, he is expected to interact with affected residents and review damage to houses, crops, infrastructure and livelihoods, besides taking stock of ongoing relief and restoration measures.

His absence from the district during the calamity had drawn criticism from the ruling BJP. Residents of Hinjili had also launched a 'missing person' poster campaign, urging their MLA to visit the affected constituency.

Earlier, Patnaik had expressed concern over the situation, spoken to the district collector and sent a party delegation to assess the ground realities.

Meanwhile, an eight-member Central team has visited the affected areas. The Odisha government has sought Rs 2,526 crore in central assistance for relief and rehabilitation in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts.

OPCC president Bhakta Charan Das also visited Ganjam on Thursday and interacted with residents and traders in Aska to assess their losses.

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