Odisha Government seeks explanation from OCA over Barabati floodlight failure

Bhubaneswar, Feb 10: The Odisha government has sought an explanation from Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) Secretary Sanjay Behera regarding the floodlight malfunction that disrupted the India-England ODI at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack for nearly 30 minutes.

In an official communication, the Sports and Youth Services Department noted that during the second ODI on February 9, 2025, one of the floodlights went off, causing an unexpected delay in the match. This disruption inconvenienced both players and spectators. The OCA has been directed to provide a detailed report explaining the cause of the failure, identifying those responsible, and outlining measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The report must be submitted within 10 days.

The issue has drawn criticism, especially as Odisha was hosting an international match after six years. Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, who was present at the stadium alongside Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and other dignitaries, called the incident an embarrassment despite prior preparations.

OCA Secretary Sanjay Behera explained that a generator malfunctioned, and a parked vehicle blocked access to the backup generator, delaying power restoration.