Latest Odisha Breaking News Updates - Wednesday, 20 August 2025

Chief Minister Mohan Majhi announced the construction of new Odisha Bhawans in Ayodhya, Hyderabad, and Surat to support the Odia diaspora, featuring cultural elements and modern facilities. This initiative marks a cultural and administrative milestone for the State, strengthening Odisha’s presence and services outside its geographical borders. More

Odisha's BJD leader Naveen Patnaik was discharged from a Bhubaneswar hospital after recovering from dehydration and cervical arthritis, with PM Modi wishing him well. More

Veteran BJD leaders, including Pravat Tripathy and Amar Satpathy, held a secretive meeting in Jajpur's Olasuni Gumpha, sparking speculation about a new political front to challenge BJD and BJP dominance in Odisha. The gathering was hosted by Pravat Tripathy and saw the presence of heavyweights like Amar Satpathy, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Prasanna Patasani, Rabi Pani, and Ramachandra Hansda. More

Asit Kumar, Sub-Area Manager of MCL Rampur coal mines, was arrested by CBI in Brajrajnagar for accepting a Rs 20,000 bribe to release rehabilitation dues. More

Lakhs of job aspirants in Odisha face anxiety as OPSC ASO, OSSC CGL, and Police SI exams are scheduled on September 21-22, causing confusion and forcing choices between exams. More

Odisha's State Level Single Window Clearance Authority, chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, approved 19 investment proposals worth Rs 4,515 crore at its 139th meeting, expected to create 8,200 jobs across eight districts. More

Eleven days after a Mahindra Thar hit-and-run killed Rebati Raul and her daughter Reshma in Bhubaneswar, accused driver Somnath Behera remains at large despite police seizing the vehicle and arresting accomplices. Meanwhile, widespread public outrage and the victim's family’s frustration have centred on a key question: Why has Somnath not been arrested? More

Pravat Balabantaray resigned as Dharmasala Block Chairman citing personal reasons ahead of a scheduled no-confidence vote on August 22, amid allegations of intimidation and political shifts. The resignation has stirred political dynamics in Dharmasala, revealing the differences within grassroots-level leadership and triggering a debate over coercion, power struggles, and the democratic process at the block level. More

The Orissa High Court has ordered the demolition of 221 unsafe buildings in Cuttack, with the district administration issuing notices and planning phased demolitions due to serious structural risks. More

Two critically injured in a head-on bus-bike collision near Ramagada, Gajapati; locals rescued Rajkishore Mallick, Rabi Mallick, and Subhendu Mallick; police investigating the incident. The private bus was travelling from Berhampur to Umerkote when it hit a bike coming from the opposite direction. Due to the severe impact, all three bike riders fell off the vehicle, sustaining grievous injuries. More

Pooshan Mohapatra from Cuttack, Odisha, secured AIR-1 in NEET PG, crediting his sister and family; he aims to provide affordable medicine for the poor. More

BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana announces officials will conduct weekly ward visits to resolve local issues on-site, eliminating the need for citizens to visit the office. More

Six BJD MPs skipped a key ECI meeting in New Delhi, sparking backlash and internal discord allegations, with party leaders citing prior commitments and denying factionalism. The absentee BJD MPs — Sasmit Patra, Manas Mangaraj, Munna Khan, Subhasish Khuntia, Debashish Samantaray, and Niranjan Bishi — did not attend the meeting or the subsequent press conference. More

A cobra found in Rishi village's drinking water tank has halted supply, causing panic and hardship; villagers allege administrative neglect despite forest department efforts. More

BJD petitions Central Water Commission to halt Polavaram project, warning of Malkangiri submergence and tribal displacement due to revised flood design parameters without proper consultation. More

Revenue employees in Odisha continue their 10-day strike for pay revision and benefits, defying government warnings and halting public services statewide. More

Odisha Housing Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra announced the state submitted a Bhubaneswar Metro proposal to the Centre, with a technical committee formed for feasibility surveys and funding discussions. More

BJD MP Sasmit Patra raised concerns in Parliament about the Bhubaneswar Metro Rail project's status, with Union Minister Kaushal Kishore explaining delays due to policy adherence and state revisions. More

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi flagged off the first Bhubaneswar-Jharsuguda direct flight under Odisha's B-MAAN scheme, enhancing regional connectivity and economic opportunities with Star Air operating five weekly services. More

NALCO shifts focus to the UK market to counter US tariffs, with Chairman Brijendra Pratap Singh highlighting opportunities in EV and renewable sectors, alongside a Rs 34,600 crore expansion in Odisha including Pottangi mines. More

Villagers in Kendrapara's Pattamundai allege Rs 6.18 crore Mukhya Mantri Sadak Yojana funds were misused for a 6.1 km road, with RTI data showing completion but no construction done. More

The boundary wall of Malkangiri airport collapsed for the third time due to heavy rain, exposing poor construction and flawed design by the previous BJD government, with locals alleging political haste and corruption. More

Jagatsinghpur police arrested suspended Sub-Inspector Amit Padhi for marrying a minor girl via social media and allegedly torturing her, after he absconded for four months. More

A 12-hour bandh in Muniguda, Rayagada, protested the Odisha government's exclusion of the town from new NACs, disrupting normal life and transport. More

Police in Berhampur seized swords and liquor from a suspicious car, detaining one youth and probing a suspected murder plot linked to criminal activities. More

Prabhanjan Majhi, a District Cooperative Central Bank manager in Bargarh, was arrested by Odisha Police for harassing a woman employee during his tenure in Padmapur, leading to suspension and ongoing investigation. More

The Regional Meteorological Centre predicts rainfall in southern and interior Odisha until August 24 due to a low-pressure system, with yellow warnings for heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning issued for multiple districts. More

On Wednesday, Lord Balabhadra at Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri will be adorned in Pralambasura Badha Besha after madhyana dhupa, depicting his slaying of demon Pralambasura with a wooden idol and symbolic weapons. More

25-year-old Sufal Singh died after falling from a moving ambulance in Naranpur, Mayurbhanj; police are investigating possible negligence and intoxication as causes. More

IndiGo may withdraw the only direct Bhubaneswar-Dubai flight from October 24, per AeroRoutes schedule, forcing passengers to use connecting flights like Bhubaneswar-Abu Dhabi, impacting Odia diaspora and trade. More

Three men, Kunal Raut, Alok Gouda, and Akash Behera, were arrested for assaulting a chicken shop owner in Bhubaneswar over a land dispute with a builder. More

Ayushman Pati, a first-year commerce student at BJB Autonomous College, accuses Rajan Panda of ragging on August 1, with no action from college authorities or police despite complaints. More

Odisha begins Special Intensive Revision of voter lists after 24 years, sparking Congress protests over alleged bias, while BJP supports and BJD remains non-committal on the Election Commission's initiative. The initiative, set to begin coming month (September), follows similar efforts in Bihar and aims to clean up and update the electoral rolls through door-to-door verification. More

Puri Police launched raids against illegal travel agencies following complaints of cheating and harassment, aiming to regulate the sector and protect tourists. This is part of an effort to stop the exploitation of devotees and tourists coming to Puri, a concern that has grown with the unchecked mushrooming of such agencies in recent months. More

The Election Commission of India implemented 28 reforms over six months, focusing on stakeholder engagement, technology adoption, electoral roll purification, ease of voting, and capacity building to enhance transparency and efficiency. These reforms, structured around six strategic pillars, aim to enhance transparency, voter confidence, and institutional efficiency across the electoral process in the country. More

Bandana Mallick assaulted her husband Kishore at Pattamundai Court for attempting a second marriage, alleging harassment over not bearing a son; police intervened and she protested. More

Vigilance raids expose Superintending Engineer Surendra Behera's disproportionate assets, including houses, flats, plots, and cash in multiple locations, raising corruption concerns. As of now, Behera has not commented publicly on the DA accusations. The raids, carried out in Bhubaneswar, Sundargarh, Rourkela, and Ganjam, revealed that he owns two houses, two flats, four plots of land and many more. More