Odisha landslide: Rescue teams recover 15 bodies

Bhubaneswar: Rescue team has recovered the bodies of 15 of the 17 persons who were killed in a landslide at Barghara village under Rayagada block of Odisha’s Gajapati district, Gajapati superintendent of police Amulya Kumar Das informed on Sunday.

The last rites of the deceased will be conducted after completion of post-mortem, the police official said.

A medical team reached the spot and carried out post-mortem of the bodies, he added.

The Odisha government on Saturday rushed a team of rescuers after local media reported that at least 16 persons, including five children, lost their lives while four others were missing due to a landslide in Gajapati district.

The incident occurred in Barghara village when the cave, in which they had taken shelter, collapsed following incessant rain triggered by Cyclone Titli on October 11.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik expressed condolence over the tragic incident. “The tragic incident of landslide in Gajapati has been most unfortunate. I extend my deepest condolence to the bereaved families,” said the chief minister.

Special relief commissioner Bishnupada Sethi announced Rs 4 lakh compensation for the next of kin of each deceased.

The Odisha government has announced to provide an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the persons who lost their lives in landslide at Barg-hara village under Raya-gada block of Gajapati district, informed special relief commissioner Bishnupada Sethi.

The official added that 68 families out of a total of 75 residing in the village were evacuated to safe places while the rest seven families didn’t agree to shift.