A tragic calamity triggered by Cyclone Arnab has wiped out an entire family in Gidipabali village, located in the Ganjam district of Odisha. Following an intensive seven-day search and extraction operation, rescue personnel on Thursday recovered the bodies of five family members buried under dense landslide debris. The victims include a husband, a wife, and their three young children. The recovery of these five bodies brings a painful close to a week-long search effort and raises the overall fatality count from this specific landslide incident to seven.
Identification of the Deceased Family Members
All five victims recovered on Thursday belonged to the same household in Gidipabali village. Local authorities confirmed their identities after family members arrived at the site. The deceased have been identified as 27-year-old Bhumika Pradhan, 25-year-old Vijay Pradhan, 7-year-old Arun Pradhan, 6-year-old Vijayalakshmi Pradhan, and 1-year-old toddler Jayalakshmi Pradhan. Following formal identification by grieving relatives, the final rites of the family members were performed. Prior to Thursday's discovery, rescue teams had already recovered two other bodies from the debris, taking the total death toll from the disaster to seven.
Massive Landslide Destroys Nine Homes
The disaster unfolded on the night of October 28 following heavy rains associated with Cyclone Arnab. A major landslide hit the Gangabali hill, situated right on the border separating Kandhamal and Ganjam districts. Huge volumes of earth, mud, and heavy boulders slid down the hillside, crashing directly into Gidipabali village below. The impact completely destroyed at least nine residential houses, trapping multiple inhabitants under heavy structural debris and earth, which prompted an immediate large-scale emergency response.
170 Personnel Deployed in Multi-Agency Search
A massive search and rescue operation was mobilized shortly after the incident to locate missing residents. Approximately 170 personnel from multiple emergency teams have been actively operating on the ground. The deployed response forces include crews from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), the State Fire Services, the District Voluntary Force, and the Special Operation Group. These specialized teams have been meticulously sifting through mounds of mud and collapsed building structures.
Adverse Weather Pauses Operations Ahead of Friday Resume
Relentless rainfall in the region has posed significant hazards and delays to the ongoing search effort. On Wednesday, search operations had to be temporarily suspended due to heavy downpours that made the terrain unsafe for rescue crews. However, authorities prepared to resume full-scale search activities from Friday onwards. Rescue personnel will remain stationed at the landslide site in the coming days to carry out further clearance operations and search for any other individuals who may still be trapped beneath the rubble.
