Odisha landslide: 5 more bodies recovered in Ganjam's Gidipabali village
Synopsis
Days of painstaking debris clearance at Gidipabali village in Odisha's Ganjam district have yielded five more bodies — three of them children — from a landslide that struck on 28 October during Cyclone Arnab. With enormous house-sized boulders blocking access and several people still unaccounted for, the rescue operation at the hilltop hamlet underscores how devastating the storm's inland impact has been.
Key Takeaways
Rescue teams recovered five more bodies on 5 November from debris at Gidipabali village , Ganjam district, Odisha .
Three of the five victims were minors: Aruna Pradhan (7) , Bagri Pradhan (1) , and Bijayalaxmi Pradhan (6) .
The landslide struck on 28 October , triggered by Cyclone Arnab ; around 13 people were initially reported missing from the settlement of approximately 25 .
Two additional bodies had been recovered in a previous search round; ODRAF and Fire Services remain deployed for further operations.
House-sized boulders are hampering clearance, as mud cannot be removed until the rocks are first dislodged.
Family members performed last rites at the accident site , with full assistance from the state administration.
Rescue teams on Thursday, 5 November recovered the bodies of five more persons from beneath debris at Gidipabali village in Ganjam district, Odisha, weeks after a massive landslide struck the hilltop hamlet on 28 October, triggered by Cyclone Arnab. The recovery brings the total confirmed deaths closer to the 13 people initially reported missing after the disaster.
Who Was Found
The five deceased, including three minors, were identified by their family members at the site. They were named as Aruna Pradhan (7), Bagri Pradhan (1), and Bijayalaxmi Pradhan (6) among the children, alongside adults Bhumika Pradhan (27) and Bijaya Pradhan (25). Officials noted that the families chose to perform the last rites at the accident site itself, a decision the state administration honoured by extending all necessary assistance.
Scale of the Disaster
The Gidipabali settlement, perched on a hillside, was home to around 25 people at the time of the landslide. Triggered by exceptional rainfall associated with Cyclone Arnab, thick layers of mud and enormous boulders rolled down the hill and crashed into residential structures. According to officials, some of the boulders are as large as houses, making direct removal impossible — debris clearance could only proceed once those rocks were first dislodged.
Ongoing Rescue Effort
The Odisha government, in an official statement, confirmed that the district administration and specialised rescue teams had been engaged in systematic debris removal to reach victims trapped beneath. Two more bodies had been recovered in a previous round of search operations a few days earlier. Special teams from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Fire Services remain deployed at the site to continue the search for remaining missing persons.
'The relentless efforts of the teams deployed at the site have led to the recovery of five bodies,' the state government said. 'During this difficult time, the entire administration stands firmly with the bereaved families.'
What Happens Next
Search operations are continuing for the remaining missing individuals from the original count of 13. The scale of boulder obstruction means recovery is likely to remain slow and technically challenging. The Gidipabali landslide, one of the more severe consequences of Cyclone Arnab's impact on Odisha, has drawn attention to the vulnerability of hilltop settlements in the state's coastal districts during extreme weather events.
Point of View
But arriving after the fact is not the same as prevention. Odisha has built a creditable disaster-response machinery, yet the conversation about permanently resettling geologically exposed villages rarely moves beyond post-disaster statements.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people were reported missing after the Gidipabali landslide in Odisha?
Around 13 people were initially reported missing after the landslide struck Gidipabali village in Ganjam district on 28 October. The settlement had approximately 25 residents at the time of the disaster.
What caused the landslide in Gidipabali village, Odisha?
The landslide was triggered by exceptional rainfall associated with Cyclone Arnab, a severe cyclonic storm that struck Odisha. The heavy downpour destabilised the hillside, sending thick mud and enormous boulders crashing into the hamlet.
Who were the five victims recovered on 5 November?
The five victims were identified as Aruna Pradhan (7), Bhumika Pradhan (27), Bijaya Pradhan (25), Bagri Pradhan (1), and Bijayalaxmi Pradhan (6). Three of them were minors, and all were identified by their family members at the site.
Are rescue operations still ongoing at Gidipabali?
Yes, teams from ODRAF and the Fire Services remain deployed at the site. Recovery has been hampered by house-sized boulders that must be removed before underlying mud and debris can be cleared to reach remaining victims.
What assistance has the Odisha government provided to affected families?
The state administration extended all necessary assistance for families to perform last rites at the accident site, as the families themselves chose. The government has also maintained continuous deployment of specialised disaster response and fire services personnel.
