Landslide tragedy in Gajapati: No trace of father-son duo even after 24 hours

A grim situation has unfolded in Marloda panchayat of Odisha’s Gajapati district following a devastating landslide. A 70-year-old man and his son went missing yesterday, with no trace found even 24 hours after the incident.

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The victim elderly man identified as Kartik Sabar and his son as Rajik Sabar of Pekat village under Rayagada block, had gone to work on their farmland. While returning home during heavy rain, they took shelter under a tree. At that moment, a sudden landslide occurred, and both are feared to have been buried under mud and debris.

Local villagers and fire service personnel have been tirelessly searching the area since the incident, but the father and son remain untraceable.

Meanwhile, Odisha Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena visited the mishap site to oversee the rescue operations. He also met the grieving family, expressed his condolences, and assured that all efforts are being made to recover the missing individuals swiftly.

Local authorities are treating the situation with utmost seriousness, as the region remains vulnerable to such natural disasters during the monsoon season.

“Six teams have been deployed in the search operation since around 4.00 PM of yesterday. A dog squad has also been pressed into service along with Poclain and JCB machines. It still remains unclear whether they were swept away by surging river water or got buried under the debris following the landside,” a local fire officer expressed to OTV.

“Four teams are searching at the landslide spot here and two other teams have been sent to the lower catchment area along with Gurandi BDO. Large rocks had rolled down the hill and it has become difficult for us to remove them,” the official said.

“Due to the landslide, a large patch of land covering around 15-20 feet in width has got filled with soil and rocks. The land slid from a height of nearly 100 feet. As a result, the nearby river has partially changed its course,” the fire officer added.