Kandhamal, Nov 4 (UDN): The search operation at landslide-hit Gidipabali village along the Kandhamal-Ganjam border has been temporarily suspended due to adverse weather and serious safety concerns, even as the district administration remains committed to making one final effort to trace those still missing.
Kandhamal Collector Vedabhushan said rescue operations could resume on Thursday if weather conditions improve. He clarified that the temporary suspension should not be treated as the final decision to abandon the search.
“We will try till the end. Every possible effort will be made to locate the missing persons,” the Collector said while briefing the media.
Victims Feared Buried More Than 30 Feet Deep
According to the Collector, three consecutive landslides struck the hilltop settlement in a single night, burying houses and residents under massive layers of earth and debris.
Experts involved in the operation estimate that the remaining missing persons may be buried more than 30 feet beneath the accumulated debris. The depth and unstable nature of the landslide material have made further excavation extremely difficult.
The available machinery is unable to effectively reach such depths. Moreover, additional controlled blasting could destabilise the hillside and trigger fresh landslides, putting the lives of rescue personnel and others at risk.
Two bodies recovered earlier were identified as 29-year-old Sanman (Salman) Pradhan and 52-year-old Rabi Mallick. Their recovery itself required nearly three days of painstaking efforts. However, subsequent blasting operations over the last two days failed to produce any significant breakthrough.
Families Prepare for Possible Final Rites
With the search operation facing mounting challenges, the families of the missing residents have gradually begun accepting the difficult situation.
A proposal has been raised to conduct collective last rites at a location near the affected village. Local residents have also suggested constructing a memorial at the landslide site in memory of those who lost their lives.
A joint meeting involving the Kandhamal and Ganjam district administrations discussed these proposals. However, officials indicated that a final decision would be taken after further consultations with the affected families and local residents, keeping their emotional and psychological condition in consideration.
Helicopter Rescue Plan Ruled Out
The administration has also ruled out the proposed aerial deployment of rescue personnel and equipment through helicopters due to the extremely challenging terrain and the absence of a suitable landing area.
The Railway rescue team will not be involved in the next phase of operations, according to the Collector.
Any further decision regarding the search will be taken collectively by the state government, the two district administrations and representatives of the affected village.
Gidipabali Tragedy Leaves Families Devastated
The devastating landslide, reportedly triggered by heavy rainfall associated with Cyclone Arnab late last month, virtually destroyed the remote hamlet comprising nine families near the Ganjam-Kandhamal border.
While some residents managed to escape the disaster, more than ten people remain unaccounted for despite several days of intensive rescue operations.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Fire Services and other specialised agencies participated in the search.
Despite the enormous challenges, the Kandhamal administration has maintained that every possible opportunity to trace the missing residents will be explored if conditions permit.
For the families waiting for answers, the suspension of the rescue operation has brought another painful moment of uncertainty.