Five Family Members Found Dead After Cyclone‑Triggered Landslide in Odisha

Five bodies were recovered from the landslide debris in Gidipabali village on Thursday, raising the death toll from the recent Cyclone Arnab disaster to seven. The recovered victims were a couple and their three children, all residents of the remote hamlet in Ganjam district. Collector Vedbhusan of Kandhamal confirmed their identities and said the last rites were performed near the village. The landslide struck on October 28 after heavy rains brought by Cyclone Arnab, burying several houses in a massive volume of mud and boulders. Over six days, teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, National Disaster Response Force, Odisha Fire Service, Special Operations Group, Indian Railways engineers and local villagers combed the site. Fire Services Director General Sudhanshu Sarangi described the debris removal as a herculean task, noting that controlled explosions were needed to break huge rocks blocking access. Gidipabali, home to just 25 people, saw 13 residents escape with minor injuries. The district administration was notified two days after the slide, and the lack of an access road hampered the use of heavy machinery. Authorities say rescue efforts will continue even after the bodies have been recovered.

Context

Landslides in hilly parts of Odisha often follow intense cyclonic rains, and the rugged terrain can delay emergency response because roads are scarce.