Rescue operation halted at landslide-hit Odisha village due to weather
Families of 10 missing persons in Gidipabali prepare for final rituals as search efforts face significant challenges.
The multi-agency search and rescue operation at Gidipabali village in south Odisha was halted on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, due to inclement weather, according to The Hindu. The decision follows a lack of breakthrough in the search for 10 villagers trapped by the landslide.
Kandhamal District Collector Vedbhusan said the operation was temporarily suspended after experts assessed that remains could be buried under nearly 30 feet of debris. He noted that three successive landslides in the area make removal difficult and that further blasting could trigger fresh landslides or endanger rescue personnel.
The village is a remote hilltop location on the Kandhamal-Ganjam district border with no access road. Collector Vedbhusan said the lack of roads hampers the transport of heavy machinery, and the only way to move equipment to the site may be through airdropping.
The State Government launched the operation on October 30, 2026, following landslides triggered by heavy rains from Cyclone Arnab. Of the 26 residents of the village, 13 escaped on the night of October 29, while one person was rescued alive and two bodies, identified as Salman Pradhan and Rabi Mallick, were recovered.
The administration met with family members at a shelter camp to discuss the situation. Collector Vedbhusan stated that the families requested assistance to perform final rituals and find closure. He added that officials will make one more final attempt to ensure closure once the weather remains clear for a couple of days.