Bhubaneswar: A massive coordinated search and rescue operation is underway at the landslide site in Gidipabali of Ganjam district to trace missing persons.
To expedite the operation, the district administration has deployed multiple rescue teams along with advanced technical equipment and local labourers. As many as six agencies have been pressed into service. These include 42 personnel of two Special Operations Group (SoG) teams, 15 members of an ODRAF team, 34 personnel and four officers of two NDRF teams, 35 Fire Services personnel and 35 Railway staff. Besides, a 12-member team from the Animal Husbandry department has also been deployed.
Three sniffer dogs – Rocky and Vicky of NDRF and Sultan of Fire Services – have been deployed to assist in locating the missing persons. In terms of equipment, the Railway department has deployed a generator set, two drill machines and 100 blasting gelatin sticks.
The NDRF has brought in a life detector and a radar device to detect signs of life under the debris, while ODRAF and Fire Services have deployed drill machines and generator sets.
Local labourers are also assisting the rescue teams to make the operation more intensive and effective.
Officials said the search and rescue operation is continuing with coordinated efforts of various departments and with the help of modern equipment.
