A high-intensity, coordinated search and rescue operation is actively underway at the Gidipabali landslide site in Ganjam district to locate missing individuals trapped under debris.
To expedite the mission, the administration has deployed elite rescue personnel, cutting-edge technical equipment, and dedicated local workers on the ground.
Elite Forces and Sniffer Dogs Deployed
A massive contingent of specialised teams has been mobilised to lead the search efforts:
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Special Operations Group (SoG): 42 members across 2 specialised units.
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National Disaster Response Force (NDRF): 34 personnel, 4 officers, and 2 trained sniffer dogs—Rocky and Vicky.
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Fire Services Department: 35 personnel equipped with 1 sniffer dog named Sultan.
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Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF): 1 team comprising 15 rescue experts.
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Railway Department: 35 dedicated personnel.
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Animal Resources Department: 1 specialised team of 12 personnel.
To assist the forces, local workers have joined hands with rescue personnel to speed up debris clearing and navigation through difficult terrain.
High-Tech Equipment Powering Search Efforts
To pinpoint survival signals under heavy soil layers, response units have mobilized specialized technological gear:
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NDRF Units: Equipped with 1 Life Detector and 1 specialised Radar System.
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Railway Authorities: Deployed 2 heavy-duty drilling machines, 1 generator set, and 100 blasting gelatin sticks to break through massive rock obstructions.
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Fire Services & ODRAF: Operating high-capacity generators and additional heavy drilling equipment to ensure uninterrupted night-and-day operations.
Ganjam Administration Executes Large-Scale Disaster Response Plan
While search teams battle conditions at the landslide epicentre, the Ganjam district administration has put a comprehensive mitigation and evacuation plan into motion across the region:
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Mass Evacuations: Against a target of evacuating 2,94,752 individuals from vulnerable zones, 1,51,434 people have already been safely shifted to relief centres.
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Shelter Capacity: A total of 1,139 relief shelters (110 permanent and 1,029 temporary facilities) are operational, capable of housing up to 3,41,700 people.
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Essential Logistics & Healthcare: Medical teams are stationed at all evacuation centres. Adequate food relief stocks are secured across all blocks and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), with additional supplies scheduled to reach locations by this evening. Generators and water tankers have been deployed to ensure continuous power and clean drinking water.
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Grassroots Nodal Coordination: Individual Nodal Officers have been appointed for every village to oversee basic facility distribution and maintain direct communication with residents. Public address systems (mikes) are actively broadcasting safety advisories across all affected regions.
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Safety & Hazard Mapping: Landslide-prone zones have been mapped across 4 vulnerable blocks, and residents living in unsafe structures are being evacuated.
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Educational Shutdown: All schools, colleges, and Anganwadi centres across Ganjam district will remain closed through November 3 as a precautionary measure.
Restoration crews remain on standby to maintain continuous electricity supply and keep critical road connections open across all major routes. Search and rescue operations at Gidipabali remain ongoing.
