Brahmapur: At least 13 people are missing and 11 others have survived a massive landslide that struck Gidipabali village under Baibali panchayat in Ganjam district’s Bhanjanagar block around 3 am on Thursday, following incessant rainfall triggered by Cyclone Arnab.
A huge mass of mud, rocks, uprooted trees and water cascaded down the hillside, burying houses and leaving the entire village devastated. The missing persons had not been traced till the filing of this report.
The 13 missing villagers have been identified as Ravi Mallik, Sanaman Pradhan, Baladev Pradhan, Bijay Pradhan, Pratap Pradhan, Jayanti Pradhan, Padma Pradhan, Durgasini Pradhan, Bijaylaxmi Pradhan, Rajlaxmi Pradhan, Chimpu Pradhan, Tarabati Pradhan and Sumitra Pradhan.
Of the 11 survivors, two women — Samita Mallik and Manima Pradhan — sustained serious injuries. They were spotted by G Udayagiri block’s in-charge Block Development Officer (BDO), Satyanarayan Mishra, while he was visiting the landslide-hit area. The two women were rescued and immediately shifted to the G Udayagiri health centre for treatment.
Gidipabali has nine families with a combined population of around 26. According to survivor Rinima Mallik, residents were asleep when they suddenly heard a loud rumbling sound. Before anyone could understand what was happening, a massive flow of mud, rocks, trees and water swept down from the hill and buried their houses.
Eleven people managed to escape the disaster. Among the survivors are twin children aged one year and three months and an eight-year-old boy.
After losing their homes and belongings, the survivors reportedly spent considerable time taking shelter in the hills, without adequate food or water. At around 2 pm on Friday, they reached a temporary relief camp set up at Kilapanga Primary School under Katingia panchayat in G Udayagiri block, where they recounted their traumatic experience.
Samita and Manima had reportedly been trapped under mud and debris but managed to free themselves. They were making their way out through the Balingia road when the BDO spotted them and arranged for their medical treatment.
The other nine survivors are also taking shelter at the temporary camp in Kilapanga Primary School.
Meanwhile, eight villagers from Kilapanga, led by Belarson Pradhan, a relative of one of the missing persons, visited the landslide-hit area to search for the missing. However, they returned without finding anyone.
The affected families have lost almost everything in the disaster and are left with little more than the clothes they were wearing.
Reports have also emerged of landslides at six locations near Gatingia panchayat along the Ganjam-Kandhamal border under G Udayagiri block, indicating the widespread impact of the heavy rainfall.