Ganjam, Odisha : Beneath an enormous mountain of mud, rocks and shattered homes, an agonising wait continues in Gidipabali village of Odisha’s Ganjam district. Ten people remain missing, two bodies have been recovered, and families are struggling to come to terms with a tragedy that has turned their once-peaceful settlement into a landscape of devastation.

The disaster struck at approximately 3 am on October 28, when most villagers were fast asleep. Following days of relentless rainfall in the aftermath of Cyclone Arnab, a massive section of the hillside gave way, unleashing a deadly landslide that swept through the settlement. Within minutes, houses were buried beneath tonnes of earth, enormous boulders and uprooted trees. Residents were caught completely off guard, with little time to escape.

The scale of destruction soon became apparent. Twelve people were initially reported missing. After days of intensive search operations, rescuers recovered two bodies, 52-year-old Rabi Malik and 29-year-old Salman Pradhan. For their families, the recovery brought an unbearable confirmation of loss. But for the families of the remaining ten missing people, uncertainty continues to deepen.

A massive multi-agency rescue operation was launched, involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Fire Services and other emergency personnel. Sniffer dogs, specialised radar systems, advanced equipment and heavy machinery were deployed in an effort to detect signs of life beneath the rubble.

Yet, the operation has been extraordinarily difficult. An estimated 30 feet of debris, massive boulders weighing several tonnes and the challenging terrain of the hilly region have severely complicated the search. The continuing threat of further slope collapses and adverse weather conditions have added to the dangers faced by rescue personnel.

With the situation remaining precarious, search operations were suspended on November 4 and 5.

THE MOST PAINFUL WAIT IS NOW TURNING INTO A FINAL FAREWELL

For families still waiting for their missing loved ones, the passage of every hour brings fresh anguish. Hopes of a reunion are slowly being overshadowed by the devastating possibility that those trapped beneath the debris may never return.

In a deeply emotional development, families are reportedly preparing for symbolic last rites for those who remain missing. It is a heartbreaking reality — preparing to bid farewell without seeing the faces of loved ones, without recovering their bodies and without knowing what their final moments were like.

The Odisha government has announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of those who lost their lives. Efforts are also underway to rehabilitate people affected by the disaster.

The Gidipabali tragedy comes amid widespread destruction across southern Odisha following Cyclone Arnab and the subsequent heavy rainfall and flooding. Several areas of Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal have suffered extensive damage, with villages inundated and thousands of residents moved to safer locations and relief camps.

But in Gidipabali, the devastation is measured not merely in damaged houses or destroyed infrastructure. It is measured in families torn apart, childhood memories buried beneath the earth and the unbearable silence left behind by those who may never come home.

The rescue machinery may have paused, but the grief has not. Behind every mound of debris lies a family waiting for answers, a loved one whose whereabouts remain unknown and a hope that refuses to disappear completely.

Thirty feet of debris may have buried homes and lives, but the pain of Gidipabali’s families is far deeper. For those waiting, the hardest part is not knowing whether they will ever get one final chance to say goodbye.