Bhubaneswar, Oct 22 (IANS) Odisha Congress in-charge Jitendra Singh on Monday said the state government was solely responsible for the death of more than 70 people in cyclone Titli and the consequent deluge.
He charged that the state administration did not take the Met Department's warning seriously, resulting in unpreparedness and avoidable loss of lives.
"From the beginning, Odisha government officers and the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) were not serious. The focus of the entire administration was on Ganjam district, which happens to be Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's constituency district," said the Congress leader.
Singh, along with state Congress leaders, was visiting the cyclone-affected areas in Odisha.
Leader of Opposition in Odisha Legislative Assembly Narasingh Mishra said there was no supply of drinking water and electricity to villages affected by the natural calamity.
"Only 250 ml of kerosene is being given to people in a situation where electricity is not available. The BJD government has totally mismanaged the situation and has no moral right to rule," he said.
