In a heart-wrenching incident triggered by relentless rain from Cyclonic Storm Arnab, a devastating landslide swept through Dangesi village under Raikia block in Kandhamala district, wiping out an entire family overnight.
The victims have been identified as Achyuta Pradhan, his wife Anisha Pradhan, and their nine-month-old infant son. According to reports, a massive chunk of mud and debris collapsed from an adjacent hill late yesterday, burying their house while the family was inside.
Rescue Operations and Missing Villagers
The Panchayati Raj Minister in charge of Kandhamal district confirmed the tragic deaths following initial assessments by local administrative teams. Authorities noted that several other residents of Dangesi village remain missing, raising fears that the casualty count could rise as search and rescue teams navigate terrain made hazardous by ongoing precipitation and blocked roads.
Disaster response personnel and district administration officials have been deployed to clear the debris, locate missing villagers, and provide immediate relief to affected families in the area.
Chief Minister Expresses Grief, Announces Financial Aid
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep condolences over the tragic demise of the Pradhan family. In an official message shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the Chief Minister offered his prayers for the bereaved family members during this period of tragic loss.
The Chief Minister announced an ex-gratia assistance of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).
କନ୍ଧମାଳ ଜିଲ୍ଲା ରାଇକିଆ ବ୍ଲକ ଡାଙ୍ଗେସି ଗ୍ରାମର ଦମ୍ପତ୍ତି ଅଚ୍ୟୁତ ପ୍ରଧାନ, ଅନୀଷା ପ୍ରଧାନ ଏବଂ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ଶିଶୁସନ୍ତାନଙ୍କର ଦୁଃଖଦ ପ୍ରାଣହାନି ସମ୍ପର୍କରେ ଜାଣି ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଶ୍ରୀ @MohanMOdisha ଗଭୀର ଶୋକ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିବା ସହ ଶୋକସନ୍ତପ୍ତ ପରିବାରବର୍ଗଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ସମବେଦନା ଜଣାଇଛନ୍ତି।
ଏଥିସହିତ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ମୃତକଙ୍କ ପରିବାରର ନିକଟତମ ଆତ୍ମୀୟଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ରିଲିଫ ପାଣ୍ଠି (CMRF)ରୁ ୪ ଲକ୍ଷ ଟଙ୍କା ଲେଖାଏଁ ଆର୍ଥିକ ସହାୟତା ଘୋଷଣା କରିଛନ୍ତି ।— CMO Odisha (@CMO_Odisha) October 30, 2026
The local administration remains on high alert across Kandhamala’s hilly regions, where vulnerable terrain continues to pose severe landslide risks amid sustained weather hazards. Rescue and recovery efforts in Dangesi village are currently ongoing.
