Cyclone Arnab wreaks havoc in Odisha: 5 bodies of the same family found under debris 7 days after landslide, three children among victims

A massive landslide triggered by Cyclone Arnab in Odisha's Ganjam district has devastated a family. The bodies of five members of the same family, who were buried under debris in Gidipabali village, were recovered seven days after the incident. The deceased include a husband, wife, and their three young children. A wave of mourning has swept through the village following the recovery of all five bodies after a week-long search operation.

According to the administration, the incident occurred on the night of 28 October near the Gangabali hill located on the border of Kandhamal and Ganjam districts. A massive amount of soil and rocks slid down from the hill onto the village situated below, burying several houses under the debris.

All five bodies recovered from the debris identified

The deceased have been identified as Vijay Pradhan (25), his wife Bhumika Pradhan (27), and their three children Arun (7), Vijayalakshmi (6), and Bagari (1). All were residents of Gidipabali village. Relatives identified the bodies. As per the family's wishes, the last rites for all five were performed at the site with the help of the administration.

Two other bodies had been recovered from this landslide earlier. With this, the death toll from the incident in Gidipabali has risen to seven. According to the administration, six people are still missing and the search for them is ongoing.

Debris slid from the hill on the night of 28 October, nine houses destroyed

This incident occurred on the night of 28 October near the Gangabali hill located on the border of Kandhamal and Ganjam districts. Following heavy rainfall caused by the impact of Cyclone Arnab, soil, large boulders, and trees began to slide down from the hill. At least nine houses in Gidipabali village were completely destroyed after being hit by the slide.

Many people were sleeping in their homes at the time of the landslide. The sudden arrival of the debris did not even give them a chance to react. Several villagers went missing after the incident, following which the administration launched a large-scale rescue operation.

NDRF and ODRAF teams engaged in the search

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Fire Services, and the district administration are working continuously to locate the missing persons. A large number of personnel have been deployed in the rescue operation.

The biggest challenges in the relief and rescue work are the heavy boulders, inaccessible hilly terrain, and the lack of road connectivity. Some rocks are so large that it is becoming difficult to even transport heavy machinery to the site. The operation also had to be halted intermittently due to continuous rain and the threat of further landslides.

According to Kandhamal District Magistrate Vedbhushan, the search operation has been intensified following an improvement in the weather. Despite the recovery of five bodies, the administration has clarified that the search for the remaining missing persons will continue.

This tragedy has left many families in Gidipabali village in deep shock. The death of five members of the same family has plunged the entire area into mourning.