Information has emerged about another landslide in Odisha’s Gajapati district during Cyclone Titli; eight people were killed in it and seven are missing.
The landslide occurred late in the night on October 11 in Kainpur panchayat of Raigada block. With this, the number of people who died or are missing due to Titli in Gajapati district rose to 40. As Kainpur area remained cut-off after the cyclone, the news about it came out almost three days later.
The landslide occurred in Kainpur panchayat at around midnight on October 11. Kainpur panchayat borders Gangabada panchayat, where 15 persons had died and three others went missing because of a landslide that occurred during landfall of Titli cyclone on October 11 morning.
The sarpanch and panchayat extension officer of Kainpur have confirmed the landslide and the death toll.
Buried under debris
According to sources, inhabitants of five villages of Kainpur had taken shelter in two school buildings during daytime on October 11 to save themselves from the cyclone. Around midnight, when the rain stopped, a group of them had come out to collect food. The landslide occurred shortly and 15 persons got buried under the debris.
Villagers had recovered eight bodies, while seven others are still missing. As bodies were decomposing and officials had not reached the spot even on Sunday (October 14), localites are said to have cremated the bodies.
Two more persons were reported to have died due to wall collapse in Gangabada panchayat of Raigada block. Unofficial numbers of persons dead or missing in other areas of Gajapati district include two each from Gosani, Gandahati, Laxmipur and one from Kashinagar. Administration has confirmed 18 deaths in Gajapati district and reports of other deaths were being verified. State government has declared to provide four lakh rupees compensation to families of each deceased.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told newsmen in Bhubaneswar that he will not celebrate his birthday on Tuesday as people of the State are suffering because of the Titli cyclone and the rains that followed. Mr Patnaik had not celebrated his birthday in 2013 and 2014 in the wake of Phailin and Hudhud cyclones.
The CM reviewed the relief and restoration work in the State secretariat in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday evening. State chief secretary, A.P.Padhi, who visited Gajapati, the most affected district of Titli cyclone was also present in this meeting.
After this meeting the CM declared provision of one thousand rupees, 50Kg rice and 2.5 litre kerosene to all Titli cyclone affected families. The CM has also declared that 2000 rupees more will be deposited in bank accounts of affected families in near future.
As per release of CM’s office, by Tuesday polythene sheets will be provided to all families whose houses were damaged. Eleven trucks of polythene sheets reached Gajapati district for distribution on Monday and 50 more truck loads of polythene sheets will reach there on Tuesday, said Mr Padhi in Gajapati district. The chief secretary said efforts were continuing to resume power supply to all consumers in the district by October 20, while power will be provided to all block headquarters by Tuesday evening.
