A massive landslide triggered by torrential rains in the aftermath of Cyclone Arnab has devastated the hilltop hamlet of Gidipabali in Odisha’s Ganjam district, leaving 12 people still missing.
The incident occurred in Baibali Panchayat under Bhanjanagar Block, along the Ganjam-Kandhamal border, where a huge volume of mud, rocks, uprooted trees, and water cascaded down the hillside, burying houses.
The remote village, home to around 26 residents across roughly nine families, saw about 13 people manage to escape or relocate to safer areas. Initially, 13 were reported missing. One elderly woman, identified as Tarabati Pradhan, has been traced and rescued alive. Search operations for the remaining 12 continue.
Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil confirmed that 160–170 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Fire Services, and the Special Operation Group (SOG) have been deployed since Friday night. Officials from both Ganjam and Kandhamal districts, including Bhanjanagar Sub-Collector Umashankar Behera, are coordinating the efforts. An Indian Navy helicopter equipped with advanced detection technology is being pressed into service to scan the debris for any survivors trapped underneath
Heavy and continuous rain, slippery mud, and the difficult hilly terrain have significantly hampered the rescue operation. Some local reports earlier indicated two injured women were rescued and shifted to a health centre, while survivors described a sudden loud rumbling as the slope gave way.
The landslide is one of about 10 such incidents reported during the post-cyclone rains. Statewide, the rain-related death toll has risen to four: three members of a family (including a nine-month-old baby) in a separate landslide in Kandhamal’s Raikia block, and one person in Gajapati. In Ganjam alone, over one lakh people have been affected by floods, with nearly 40,000 taking shelter in 367 relief camps.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed intensified rescue and relief operations across the affected districts, prioritising the safety of residents. Road connectivity and power restoration are progressing in most areas, though isolated pockets remain cut off.
As of Saturday evening (October 31, 2026), the search at Gidipabali remains ongoing amid challenging weather conditions, with authorities appealing for caution and continued monitoring of the situation.
