Kandhamala Tragedy: Landslide Buries Family of Three as CM Announces ₹4 Lakh Aid
Kandhamala, Oct 30: A devastating landslide triggered by relentless rainfall associated with Cyclonic Storm Arnab claimed the lives of three members of the same family in Odisha’s Kandhamala district, officials said on Friday.
The Chief Minister has announced financial assistance for the bereaved family.
The tragedy occurred in Dangesi village under Raikia block when a massive portion of mud and debris reportedly collapsed from a nearby hill and buried a house during the night.
The victims were identified as Achyuta Pradhan, his wife Anisha Pradhan, and their nine-month-old infant son. All three died after being trapped under the debris.
Authorities confirmed the deaths after preliminary assessments by local administrative teams.
Officials also expressed concern that several other villagers remain missing, raising fears that the death toll could increase as rescue operations continue.
Disaster response personnel and district administration officials have been deployed to the affected area to remove debris, search for missing persons and provide immediate assistance to impacted families.
Rescue efforts are continuing amid challenging conditions caused by persistent rainfall and road blockages.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.
He announced an ex-gratia assistance of ₹4 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).
The district administration remains on high alert in Kandhamala’s hilly regions, where saturated soil and adverse weather conditions continue to pose landslide risks.
Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to stay cautious as recovery and relief operations proceed.
