Ganjam: Rescue teams have been deployed to search for 12 people missing after a rain-triggered landslide struck Gidipabali village on the border of Odisha’s Ganjam and Kandhamal districts. The state government has mobilised 170 personnel from disaster response and security forces as heavy rainfall linked to Cyclone Arnab triggered landslides, flooding and widespread disruption across southern Odisha.
The landslide occurred in Gidipabali village under Baibali panchayat in Bhanjanagar block of Ganjam district. According to officials cited by news agency Press Trust of India (PTI), 26 people were living in the hilltop village when the landslide struck. Thirteen managed to escape, while the remaining residents were initially reported missing.
One of the missing people has since been traced, leaving 12 unaccounted for. The search operation began on Friday night and continued on Saturday, with rescue teams working to locate those still missing.
The disaster has added to the toll from the extreme weather conditions in the region. Three people, including a nine-month-old baby, died in a separate landslide in Kandhamal district on Friday. Another person was found dead in Gajapati district.
170 personnel deployed for search operation
Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh P Patil said 170 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Special Operation Group (SOG) had been deployed for the rescue operation.
Explaining the situation in Gidipabali, Patil said 26 people had been living in the hilltop settlement. Thirteen residents managed to escape when the landslide struck, while 13 others went missing.
“One of the missing people has been traced, and the others are still untraceable. The search operation has been going on since Friday night,” Patil told reporters on Saturday, according to PTI.
The rescue teams are continuing their search for the 12 people who remain missing. The terrain and the volume of sludge and debris brought down by the rain have made the incident particularly challenging for residents and emergency personnel.
The Gidipabali landslide was among 10 such incidents reported during the period of heavy rainfall in the region. Several villages in southern Odisha have also been affected by flooding, prompting authorities to intensify evacuation and relief measures.
Cyclone Arnab’s rain causes deaths and flooding
Incessant rainfall associated with Cyclone Arnab has caused widespread disruption across southern Odisha. Apart from the Gidipabali incident, three people, including an infant aged nine months, died in a separate landslide in Kandhamal district on Friday.
Another person was found dead in Gajapati district, adding to concerns over the impact of the continuing adverse weather conditions.
Hundreds of villages across southern Odisha were inundated, forcing residents to move to safer places. Local administrations have been coordinating rescue operations, providing shelter and arranging essential supplies for affected families.
The scale of the disruption has also required authorities to focus on restoring basic services, particularly drinking water and access to essential facilities.
Chief Minister says relief operations intensified
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said rescue and relief operations had been intensified in districts affected by flooding and landslides, including Ganjam.
In a social media post, Majhi said the safety and well-being of residents remained the government’s priority. He added that people were being shifted to safer locations and that essential facilities were being arranged at relief camps.
“People are being shifted to safer locations, while essential facilities are ensured at relief camps. The administration and rescue teams remain actively engaged in providing all possible assistance to those affected,” he said.
The state administration is coordinating with disaster response personnel and district officials to support affected communities. Evacuation arrangements and relief camp facilities are among the immediate priorities as authorities continue to assess the damage caused by the rainfall.
Naveen Patnaik urges swift rescue measures
Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik expressed concern over the deaths and missing persons following the landslides in Odisha.
In a post on X, Patnaik said he was deeply saddened by the incident in Kandhamal district and the loss of lives caused by the impact of Cyclone Arnab. He also referred to the people who remained missing following the landslides.
“I urge the government to swiftly ensure all necessary steps are taken for the rescue of the people and to facilitate the restoration of normal life,” he said.
His appeal came as rescue teams continued searching for those missing in Gidipabali and district administrations worked to assist people displaced by the flooding.
Survivors recount how sludge buried houses
The 13 residents who escaped the Gidipabali landslide took shelter at a relief centre near G Udayagiri in Kandhamal district. Kandhamal district collector Vedbhusan said two children were among the survivors.
Those who reached safety described the sudden arrival of a large mass of sludge and debris from the hillside. According to survivor Rinima Mallik, the landslide buried houses and devastated the village, leaving several residents unable to escape.
“Some of us managed to run away from the place, and others were following us. But they could not reach here,” she said at the relief centre.
Another survivor, Soudamini Mallik, said some of her relatives were still missing. She appealed to the administration to intensify efforts to locate and rescue them.
“All those who survived had sustained injuries after being hit by the stones,” she said.
The accounts from survivors highlight the speed and force with which the landslide struck the settlement. Residents who escaped were also left uncertain about the fate of family members and neighbours who could not reach safety.
Injured women shifted to health centre
G Udayagiri Block Development Officer Satyanarayan Mishra said two injured women, identified as Samita Mallik and Manima Pradhan, had been shifted to a health centre for treatment.
Officials were also coordinating relief assistance for those staying at the centre. The presence of injured survivors and the number of missing residents have made the search and relief operations in the area especially urgent.
Meanwhile, Ganjam district collector V Keerthi Vasan said relief work had been accelerated in Aska and other parts of the district.
He said the overall situation in Aska was improving due to coordinated efforts by the administration and other agencies. Authorities were working to restore normalcy while ensuring that affected residents received essential supplies.
Drinking water supplies arranged in affected areas
The district administration has also taken steps to address drinking water requirements in areas affected by the heavy rainfall.
According to collector V Keerthi Vasan, 10 drinking water tankers and around 30,000 bottles of drinking water had been distributed by Friday evening.
The supplies were part of the relief measures being carried out as flooding affected hundreds of villages across southern Odisha. Access to safe drinking water remains an important concern during such emergencies, particularly in places where normal supply arrangements may have been disrupted.
Officials are continuing to coordinate relief distribution and restoration work in affected areas.
Search continues for 12 missing residents
The immediate priority for the Odisha administration remains locating the 12 people who are still missing after the Gidipabali landslide. The deployment of 170 personnel from the NDRF, ODRAF and SOG has strengthened the search operation, which has been underway since Friday night.
At the same time, district officials are continuing evacuation, medical assistance and relief distribution in areas affected by Cyclone Arnab’s rainfall.
The deaths in Kandhamal and Gajapati, the destruction reported by Gidipabali survivors and the flooding across southern Odisha underline the scale of the emergency. Authorities have said that rescue and relief efforts are being intensified, while families of the missing continue to await news of their loved ones.