Bhubaneswar: The search and rescue operation at landslide-hit Gidipabali village in Odisha’s Ganjam district has entered its fourth day, with Fire Services Director General Sudhansu Sarangi expressing hope that the operation could be completed by Tuesday evening.
At least 11 people remain missing following the massive landslide that struck the village around 3 am on October 28, triggered by incessant rainfall associated with Cyclone Arnab. Two people were rescued earlier, while 11 others managed to survive the disaster.
Speaking about the challenges faced by rescue teams, Sarangi said that several massive boulders, some as large as houses, were obstructing the operation.
He said the railway department’s chain-pulling technique was attempted to remove the huge rocks but proved unsuccessful. Subsequently, authorities planned controlled blasting to break the boulders.
Three controlled explosions were carried out on Monday, but they failed to break the massive rocks, he said.
The DG further explained that the difficult terrain and lack of road access had made it impossible to transport heavy machinery to the site, as even tractors could not reach the affected location.
With assistance from the Mines Department, efforts to break the massive boulders began on Tuesday. Sarangi said the outcome of these efforts would become clear by the evening.
Recalling the initial response, he said local residents informed the Fire Services Department after a massive portion of the hillside collapsed. Fire personnel subsequently rescued two people alive.
The landslide devastated Gidipabali village under Baibali Panchayat of Bhanjanagar block in Ganjam district, near the Ganjam-Kandhamal border.
A huge mass of mud, rocks, uprooted trees and water cascaded down the hillside, burying houses while residents were asleep. The village comprises nine families with a population of around 26.
Rescue operations are being carried out with the involvement of the district administrations of Ganjam and Kandhamal, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Fire Services personnel.
The surviving and evacuated residents have been shifted to temporary relief camps.
Comments are closed.