Odisha Landslide Tragedy After Cyclone Arnab: Death Toll Rises to 6, 10 Still Missing in Ganjam

November 2, 2026

Bhubaneswar: The death toll has climbed to six in Odisha due to incidents caused by Cyclone Arnab after two more bodies were recovered from a landslide hit village in Ganjam district. However, a total of 10 people are still missing.

The two latest bodies were recovered from Gidipabali village in the Bhanjanagar block, close to the Ganjam-Kandhamal border, after heavy rains caused by the cyclone caused a massive amount of mud, sludge and boulders to tumble down the hillside in the remote hilltop village on October 28.

The village had around 26 people living there. At least 13 of the villagers were able to escape and have been moved to a relief centre in the nearby area of G Udaygiri in Kandhamal district.

Difficult Search Conditions

As there is no road leading to the village, rescue teams have struggled to reach Gidipabali. They have had to walk up steep and hilly areas to reach the area. This has also made it impossible for heavy rescue equipment such as cranes and earthmoving equipment to get to the location.

There are around 177 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), Fire Services, Special Operation Group, Railways and Indian Navy involved in the search.

Rescue workers are manually removing debris from the village after it became covered in massive amounts of mud, sludge and boulders. One of the boulders is estimated to be around 25 feet.

Railway engineers have also arrived with chains and pulley equipment to help remove the heavy rocks. Teams are looking at ways to crack the boulders into smaller pieces.

Increased Search Efforts

“We will increase our search efforts,” said Odisha Fire Services Director General Sudhanshu Sarangi.

Rescue workers are looking into using vibration detection equipment which can detect any signs of life such as a heartbeat under the rubble. They are looking at the best ways to safely move the large boulders.

Across Odisha, six people have lost their lives. Three members of one family, including a nine-month old baby, died in another landslide in Kandhamal district. Another man was washed away by strong water flows in Gajapati district.

Cyclone Arnab hit neighbouring Andhra Pradesh on October 28. Heavy rain caused by the cyclone led to landslides and flooding in parts of Odisha. Ganjam and Kandhamal were some of the hardest hit areas.

The state government has continued with relief and rescue efforts.