Gidipabali Landslide: Rescue Operation Suspended After Seven Bodies Recovered, Six Still Missing

Kandhamal: The rescue operation at Gidipabali village along the Kandhamal-Ganjam border was suspended on Tuesday after seven bodies were recovered from the landslide site, while six others remain missing.

Kandhamal District Collector announced the decision, stating that the families of the six missing persons had submitted written requests seeking an end to the search operation.As many as 13 people went missing after a massive landslide struck Gangubali hill on the night of October 28, reportedly triggered by heavy rainfall caused by Cyclone Arnab. The landslide buried parts of Gidipabali village under debris.

A large-scale rescue operation began on October 31 after rainfall subsided, with teams from ODRAF, the District Voluntary Force (DVF) and Fire Services conducting extensive searches under challenging conditions.

Rescuers initially recovered two bodies, followed by five more. However, the remaining six missing persons could not be traced, prompting the administration to suspend the operation following the families’ requests.