Odisha short of equipment, may use explosives to rescue landslide victims

Massive boulders and mud blocks completely cover a road following a landslide triggered by heavy and continuous rainfall, in Gajapati on Saturday, October 31, 2026. | Photo Credit: ANI VIdeo Grab

BHUBANESWAR

Five people were killed and 10 others are feared trapped under debris after heavy rains triggered by Cyclone Arnab caused massive landslides in Odisha. Disaster management authorities are now keeping a close watch on Cyclonic Storm Murasu, which threatens to trigger further landslides across the State.

While Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and Indian Railways technical teams have been working for nearly 50 hours to rescue survivors trapped under the landslide debris at Gidipabali village in Bhanjanagar block of Ganjam district, the State Government is preparing for Cyclonic Storm Murasu and has identified 150 landslide-prone locations in Gajapati district alone.