Gajapati Landslide: CM, Minister Sing Different Tunes

Berhampur: The death of 12 persons in a landslide in Gajapati district on Friday night has seemly left the state government confused with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Surya Narayan Patro giving contradictory statements.

Talking to mediapersons after an aerial survey of the cyclone-affected districts on Saturday morning, the Chief Minister said he had heard about the incident and was waiting for confirmation from the district administration. “This is a very sad and unfortunate incident. My deepest condolence to the families whose kin have perished in the tragic disaster,” he added.

Jeering at the media report about the incident earlier in the day, Patro maintained that no such incident had taken taken place in Gajapati district. “I have spoken to the collector, sub-collector, the district BJD president, my party workers, MLA and ex-MLA and they negated such reports. There may have been some damage to houses and trees uprooted, which are common during cyclone. The cyclone in the United States this month had killed 172 people and destroyed several houses. Who can stop the onslaught of nature?,” Patro added.

Replying to a question about the landslide, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi had said the district SP, sub-collector, a team of doctors and other officials have already left for the spot in the morning. “There is no road connectivity to the place, where the incident had taken place. The officials are proceeding to the spot by removing the big trees that have fallen under the impact of the cyclone,” he informed.

Briefing the media in Bhubaneswar about the incident, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi said that  he had asked Gajapati collector and SP for a detailed report. “If the report confirms the death, the state government will provide ex-gratia to the family of the deceased,” he added.

Notably, 12 persons, including five children, were killed in a landslide near Bharaghar village under Gangabada panchayat on Friday night. The incident took place when the cave, in which the villagers had taken shelter to escape the wrath of the very severe cyclonic storm, suddenly caved in.