Kandhamala/Ganjam: The search operation at Gidipabali village along the Kandhamala-Ganjam border was suspended Tuesday after seven bodies were recovered from the landslide site, while six people remain unaccounted for.
The Kandhamala district collector announced the decision after the families of all six missing persons submitted written requests to the administration seeking an end to the search operation.
As many as 13 people went missing after a massive landslide struck Gangubali hill on the night of October 28. The incident was reportedly triggered by heavy rainfall associated with Cyclone Arnab, which caused large sections of the hillside to collapse, burying parts of Gidipabali village.
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A joint rescue operation was launched October 31 after the rainfall subsided. Personnel from the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), District Voluntary Force (DVF) and Fire Services were deployed to search for those trapped beneath the debris.
Rescue teams continued their efforts under difficult conditions before the administration decided to suspend the operation.
