Commuters in Bhubaneswar faced major disruptions today as 117 "Ama Bus" vehicles went completely off the roads due to a sudden staff strike. The drivers and conductors launched a massive pen-down protest, citing an agonizing two-month delay in their salary disbursements. The strike left thousands of daily passengers stranded at major transit points across the capital city.  Protesters declared that operations will remain suspended until their pending dues are cleared. Local...

Amidst a blistering summer, the Odisha government has officially cancelled the Chief Minister's "Jana Abhijog" public grievance hearings scheduled for May 18 and May 25.  The decision aims to protect citizens, especially the elderly and children, from traveling under severe, hazardous heatwave conditions across the state. Officials stated that public safety remains the highest priority during this intense weather peak.  Citizens are advised to stay indoors during maximum...

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurated the Bhimmandali Eco Heritage Site in Sambalpur district today to preserve prehistoric archaeological remains.  Located in the Naktideul Forest Range, the site features ancient rock paintings and stone inscriptions over 20,000 years old, tracing back to the Old Stone Age. Named after Bhima from the Mahabharata, the caves hold profound mythological significance. The government plans to develop this landmark into a major global heritage...

In a major administrative move, the Election Commission of India announced today that a month-long Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls will begin in Odisha on May 30, 2026.  Chief Electoral Officer R.S. Gopalan stated that this field-based process will involve house-to-house verification to update the voter database. The exercise aims to eliminate duplicate entries and include new voters, with the final electoral rolls scheduled for publication on September 6. This is part of...

While day temperatures in Western Odisha districts like Bolangir and Sambalpur soared past 40°C today, the IMD has issued a yellow warning for Kalabaisakhi (Nor'wester) storms. Over the next five days, residents can expect intermittent relief from the heat with thunderstorms and wind speeds of 50–60 kmph predicted for districts including Malkangiri and Angul.  Looking ahead, the Southwest Monsoon is expected to reach the South Bay of Bengal by tomorrow, signaling an...

The capital city of Bhubaneswar and the holy town of Puri witnessed long queues at petrol pumps today as fuel prices breached the ₹100 mark following a recent ₹3 per litre hike by the Centre.  Despite the visible "fuel frenzy," Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra assured citizens that the state holds adequate stocks for at least 13 days.  The government has officially urged the public to avoid panic buying, confirming there will be no rationing of...