Cyclone Aftermath / Gidipabali rescue halted amid rain as fresh landslide threat looms

Brahmapur, Nov 4: Rescue operations at the landslide-hit Gidipabali village on the Kandhamal-Ganjam border have been temporarily suspended due to continuous rainfall and the risk of further landslides, officials said on Wednesday.

Authorities, however, stressed that the search for the missing villagers has not been called off and that a final effort will be made once weather conditions improve.

Kandhamal Collector Vedbhushan, speaking from the site, said the decision was taken after consultations with experts who warned that ongoing rain and unstable terrain posed serious risks to rescue personnel.

Also read: Central Team Begins Cyclone Arnab Damage Assessment in Ganjam, Gajapati

He clarified that the suspension was only temporary and that operations could resume from Thursday if conditions become favourable.

According to officials, the Gidipabali area witnessed three successive landslides, leading experts to believe that the missing victims may be buried more than 30 feet beneath the debris. Current machinery is unable to safely reach such depths, further complicating the rescue effort.

The administration noted that it took nearly three days to recover two bodies from the upper layers of the landslide zone. Experts have indicated that the remaining 11 missing villagers are likely trapped much deeper under the massive accumulation of soil and debris.

With hopes of finding survivors fading, families of the missing have reportedly expressed their understanding of the administration's decision. Discussions are now underway regarding the possibility of conducting a collective last rite for the 11 missing persons at a site near the village. Local residents have also proposed the construction of a memorial in their honour.

Officials said the emotional condition of affected families is being taken into consideration while future decisions are being made. The district administration has also ruled out involving the Railways in any future rescue efforts.

Earlier proposals to air-drop rescue personnel and heavy equipment by helicopter were found to be impractical due to the region's difficult terrain and geographical constraints.