# Landslide Devastates Gidipabali Village in Odisha After Cyclone Arnab, Rescue Teams Search for Missing Residents

> A severe landslide triggered by Cyclone Arnab hit Gidipabali village in Ganjam district, leaving only 13 survivors out of a population of 25. Specialized NDRF, SOG, and naval sensor teams are searching for the missing.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Odisha · **Published:** 2026-11-02 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/odisha/odisha-ke-gidipabali-men-chakravata-arnab-ke-bada-bhari-bhuskhalana-malabe-men-dabe-graminon-ki-talasha-men-juti-rahata-timen-54737 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Odisha Landslide, Cyclone Arnab, Ganjam Disaster, Kandhamal Floods, NDRF Rescue, Suresh Pujari

Torrential rainfall driven by Cyclone Arnab has triggered catastrophic destruction across parts of Odisha. In Gidipabali village, located within Ganjam district, a massive landslide struck on October 28, prompting an urgent search and rescue mission to locate trapped residents. Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari detailed the crisis, noting that the settlement had an overall population of 25 people. In the immediate aftermath of the collapse, only 13 villagers managed to escape through the forest on foot and reach a relief centre. Following the recovery of one body from beneath the debris, 11 people remain unaccounted for as emergency teams comb the area.

## Extensive Search Operations Across Rugged Terrain
Authorities are investigating all potential routes the fleeing villagers might have taken during the chaos. Suresh Pujari noted that officials are assessing whether the missing individuals headed toward Kandhamal, navigated through deep forest stretches across streams and drainage networks back into Ganjam, or dispersed in another direction entirely. To accelerate the mission, personnel from the Special Operations Group (SOG), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) have been deployed under the direct on-site supervision of the Collector and Sub-Collector.

## Indian Railways Deployment and Naval Scanning Technology
Clearing the massive accumulation of rocks and mud near Bhanjanagar along the Ganjam-Kandhamal border required additional engineering support. Indian Railways has mobilized specialized manpower along with heavy earthmoving machinery to clear blockages and assist the state machinery. Furthermore, rescue operations are utilizing cutting-edge scanning equipment typically operated by the Indian Navy. Equipped with precision sensors, this advanced system can detect signs of life buried beneath deep mud, soil, and building rubble, giving emergency workers an essential tool in pinpointing trapped survivors.

## Destruction Across Ganjam and Kandhamal Districts
The cyclone and subsequent flash flooding took their heaviest toll on Ganjam and Kandhamal districts, where a combined population of 1,18,730 individuals has been impacted. In Kandhamal district alone, 3 fatalities have been recorded. Rapid evacuation operations carried out by the administration moved 75,855 people out of danger zones into safer locations. To care for those displaced by the storm, authorities opened 396 designated relief camps offering essential food, clean water, and medical care.

## Care for Expectant Mothers, Property Losses, and Fresh Cyclone Threat
As part of priority health interventions during the disaster, emergency personnel safely relocated 807 pregnant women to healthcare units and shelters, leading to 399 safe childbirths. Property and agrarian losses remain widespread across the region, with floodwaters and slide debris damaging 75,388 hectares of standing agricultural crops and destroying or damaging 1,672 homes. Alongside active recovery work in Ganjam, state emergency authorities are maintaining a close watch on the trajectory of a new cyclonic system advancing toward the Andhra Pradesh coast.

## What this means for you
Severe flooding and landslides have disrupted daily life across Ganjam and Kandhamal, triggering widespread emergency relocations and extensive agricultural devastation.

- **Across Odisha:** A total of 1,18,730 residents have been affected across the impacted districts, with 396 relief camps operational to house and feed displaced families. Flooding damaged 75,388 hectares of standing crops and harmed 1,672 residential structures across the state.
- **In Ganjam District:** Search operations continue for 11 missing residents of Gidipabali village following the October 28 landslide. Heavy railway equipment and specialized teams are deployed around Bhanjanagar to clear massive debris blockages.
- **In Kandhamal District:** Following 3 confirmed fatalities, administrative personnel evacuated 75,855 citizens to emergency facilities. Healthcare staff in camps are managing care for evacuated pregnant women, including 399 who recently delivered.
- **Along the Coast:** Coastal populations and disaster teams are monitoring a developing cyclonic storm tracking toward the Andhra Pradesh coast. Residents in low-lying zones must stay alert to official emergency bulletins.

## Why this happened
Unprecedented rainfall triggered by Cyclone Arnab destabilized hillside terrain, causing severe mudslides in Gidipabali and surrounding border belts.

- **Extreme Precipitation:** Cyclone Arnab dumped intense, continuous rain across the hilly terrain of southern Odisha, saturating the topsoil. On October 28, this saturation caused the hillside above Gidipabali village to collapse completely.
- **Challenging Terrain:** The remote location amidst dense forests, streams, and natural drainage paths complicated both survival and immediate emergency response. Fallen boulders and deep slush severed standard access points around Bhanjanagar.
- **Subsequent Weather Systems:** Regional atmospheric conditions remain unstable following Arnab's passage. Disaster authorities are closely tracking a new cyclonic disturbance moving toward the Andhra Pradesh coastline.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. When did the landslide hit Gidipabali village?
The landslide struck Gidipabali village on October 28 following extreme rainfall brought by Cyclone Arnab.

### 2. What was the total population of the affected settlement in Gidipabali?
According to official statements, the settlement had a total population of 25 residents.

### 3. How many residents managed to reach the relief camp safely?
Only 13 villagers successfully reached the relief camp on foot after fleeing through the forest.

### 4. How many casualties have been confirmed from the rubble, and how many are missing?
Rescue teams have recovered 1 body from the debris, while 11 residents remain missing.

### 5. Which emergency forces and specialized agencies are deployed on site?
The operation involves the NDRF, SOG, ODRAF, Indian Railways machinery, and specialized Indian Navy scanning sensors.

### 6. How many total people have been impacted across Odisha by the disaster?
A total of 1,18,730 people have been affected by the cyclone and subsequent flooding across Ganjam and Kandhamal.

### 7. How many deaths were recorded in Kandhamal, and how many people were evacuated?
Authorities confirmed 3 deaths in Kandhamal, while 75,855 residents were safely evacuated.

### 8. What is the extent of crop and housing damage reported?
The disaster damaged 75,388 hectares of standing agricultural crops and destroyed or harmed 1,672 houses.

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