Bhubaneswar: Fire Services DG Sudhansu Sarangi has given a major update on the rescue operation at the landslide site in Gidipabali of Ganjam district.
According to sources, 11 persons had gobe missing after a landslide struck Gidipabali village on the Ganjam-Kandhamal border four days back. Heavy sludge buried the hilltop hamlet during torrential rain caused by Cyclone Arnab. After the landslide, local people had informed the Fire Services department. Reaching the spot, the fire services team had safely rescued two persons. However, 11 persons are still reported to be missing.
The rescue operation has been underway for the last four days and the rescue team is hopeful that the operation will be completed by this evening. However, the huge boulders have become a major obstacle in the rescue work.
According to the Fire DG, some of the boulders present at the spot are as big as a house. The chain-pulling technique of the Railways was also applied to remove the boulders, but it was not successful. Later, it was planned to break the boulders through controlled blasts. Even though three blasts were carried out yesterday, the boulders did not break. On the other hand, as tractors cannot reach the spot, there is difficulty in transporting necessary equipment. Therefore, efforts have again started today with the help of the Mines Department to break the boulders.
The Fire DG said that it will be clear by this evening how far success is achieved in the rescue operation.
