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

A landslide struck Gidipabali village in Ganjam district on October 28, burying seven houses. Five people have died, while 10 others remain untraced beneath the debris. The disaster followed heavy rain from Cyclone Arnab, and survivors had to overcome physical barriers to alert authorities.

The debris includes massive boulders that rolled down onto the village. There is no road access, so cranes and earthmovers cannot be brought in. Railway engineers experienced in controlled blasting may use carefully managed explosives to break large boulders into smaller pieces. This could open paths for rescuers and expose buried spaces, but it must be done cautiously near survivors and unstable debris.

ODRAF, NDRF, and Indian Railways technical teams had worked for nearly 50 hours by November 1. The rescue effort remains difficult because access is limited and further rain from Cyclonic Storm Murasu could destabilize the area.

Controlled blasting is the deliberate use of explosives to break large rocks at a selected location. It differs from an uncontrolled explosion because engineers plan the placement, amount, timing, and direction of the blast. The aim is to fracture a boulder into smaller pieces while limiting danger to people, structures, and nearby slopes.

At Gidipabali, massive boulders have rolled down onto the village. Because there is no road access, cranes and earthmovers cannot be deployed. Railway engineers with expertise in controlled blasting could assess the rocks and use carefully managed charges to break them. Smaller pieces may then be removed by hand or with equipment that can reach the site.

The method is only being explored, not confirmed as the final solution. Rescuers must first protect trapped people and account for unstable debris. Further rain from Murasu could make the slope and rescue zone more dangerous.

The landslide disaster in Odisha has already killed five people. Ten others are feared trapped under debris, and the article says they remain untraced. These figures show why rescue teams are working urgently at Gidipabali village in Ganjam district.

The landslide struck on October 28 after heavy rain linked to Cyclone Arnab. It buried seven houses. Survivors eventually alerted district authorities, but rescue teams reached the remote village only on October 30. ODRAF, NDRF, and Indian Railways technical teams had been working for nearly 50 hours by November 1.

The danger extends beyond one village. Gajapati district has identified 150 landslide-prone locations. Cyclonic Storm Murasu is expected to bring more heavy rain to southern Odisha, including Gajapati, where the ground is already saturated. Authorities are preparing evacuations from vulnerable areas.

Gidipabali is remote and has no road access. That prevents cranes and earthmovers from reaching the landslide debris. The lack of heavy machinery makes it harder to move massive boulders, search buried houses, and create safe routes for rescuers.

Instead, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and National Disaster Response Force teams are working with Indian Railways technical teams. These teams have continued rescue operations for nearly 50 hours. Survivors first had to overcome physical barriers to alert district authorities, showing how isolated the village became after the landslide.

Officials are also seeking railway engineers experienced in controlled blasting. Their expertise could help break up boulders that block the site. Director General of Police (Fire Services) Sudhansu Sarangi said that option was being explored. The response remains difficult because more rain could further destabilize debris and restrict movement.

Cyclonic Storm Murasu could worsen the disaster by bringing heavy rain to southern Odisha. The ground is already saturated after Cyclone Arnab’s rainfall. Additional water may weaken slopes, increase debris movement, and make rescue work more dangerous. It could also threaten other vulnerable settlements.

The article identifies Gajapati, Ganjam, and Kandhamal as districts that received heavy rain from Arnab. Gajapati is likely to be hit again. The State Government has identified 150 landslide-prone locations in Gajapati alone. This creates a wider emergency than the single landslide at Gidipabali.

Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil warned that conditions could worsen. District collectors were directed to evacuate people from vulnerable areas. Evacuations began on November 1 evening and were scheduled to continue on November 2. Schools and colleges were already closed in Malkangiri and Nabarangpur.

ODRAF and NDRF are among the forces working to rescue people trapped by the Gidipabali landslide. Indian Railways technical teams are also supporting the operation. Their work is complicated by massive boulders and the absence of road access to the village.

Railway engineers may provide specialist expertise in controlled blasting. They could help break boulders that cranes and earthmovers cannot reach. District collectors have a different emergency role: they were directed to evacuate residents from vulnerable areas before more rain arrives. Evacuation measures began on November 1 evening.

The India Meteorological Department in Bhubaneswar is monitoring and forecasting rainfall linked to Murasu. Its director said southern and southern coastal Odisha could receive heavy rain. That forecast is guiding additional precautions, school closures, and preparations for possible further landslides across the State.

A landslide begins when a slope can no longer hold its soil and rocks in place. Intense rainfall drives water into the ground. As the soil becomes saturated, it becomes heavier and less stable. Water can also reduce the friction that helps soil and rock stay on a slope.

Gravity constantly pulls material downhill. When rainfall weakens the slope enough, gravity overcomes the remaining resistance. Soil, stones, and boulders can then slide or roll downward together. At Gidipabali, heavy rain from Cyclone Arnab preceded a landslide that buried seven houses and sent massive boulders into the village.

The risk remains high because the ground is already saturated. Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil warned that more rain from Murasu could worsen conditions. The State has identified vulnerable locations, ordered evacuations, and is preparing for further landslides in southern Odisha.