Bhubaneswar: Search and rescue operations at landslide-hit Gidipabali village in Ganjam district have been suspended from Monday, following written requests from the families of the missing persons. Of the 11 people who went missing after the landslide on October 28, five bodies have been recovered so far, while six remain untraced.
According to sources, families of the missing submitted written applications to the district administration urging it to stop the search. They stated that their family members and houses are buried under nearly 30 feet of debris and massive rocks, making recovery extremely difficult.
The families have now appealed to the administration to focus on their rehabilitation. They said they cannot live in temporary shelters for long and have demanded land for relocation and assistance to rebuild their lives.
It is pertinent to mention that tragedy struck Gidipabali village under Baibali panchayat under Bhanjanagar block, near the Ganjam-Kandhamal border, around 3 am on October 28. Heavy rain triggered by Cyclone Arnab led to a massive landslide, with mud, boulders, uprooted trees and water rolling down the hillside and burying several houses while residents were asleep.
Around 100 personnel were deployed for the rescue operation, but efforts were hampered by huge boulders, some as large as houses, difficult terrain and lack of road connectivity that prevented heavy machinery from reaching the spot. Despite sustained efforts for days, only five bodies could be retrieved.
With the search now called off, the affected families are awaiting long-term support and rehabilitation from the government.
