Bhubaneswar, Nov. 12 -- Unprecedented rainfall during Cyclone Arnab has triggered a political blame game in Odisha, with Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari attributing the Ganjam floods to extreme weather conditions, while the Opposition BJD accused the government of negligence and inadequate disaster management.
Speaking to reporters here, Pujari said Ganjam had never experienced rainfall of such intensity in its recorded history. The district received 337.6 mm of rainfall over three days from October 28 to 30, while Patrapur block recorded a staggering 808.4 mm during the period, including 546 mm in 24 hours on October 29. The latter, he said, was the fourth-highest single-day rainfall recorded in Odisha.
Sanakhemundi in Ganjam received 560...