Double blow of coastal erosion and landslide in Odisha's Ganjam district

Natural disasters have created a grave situation in Odisha's Ganjam district. On one hand, Aryapalli village is struggling to survive due to coastal erosion, while on the other, a landslide has caused massive destruction in Gidipabali village. According to reports from Hindustan Times and The Hindu, the landslide in Gidipabali village occurred on the night of 28 October 2026 due to heavy rains caused by Cyclone 'Arnab'. In this tragedy, 7 houses were razed to the ground. Out of the total 25 residents of the village, 13 people have survived, while the bodies of 2 people have been recovered. The deceased have been identified as 29-year-old Salman Pradhan and 52-year-old Rabi Mallik. 10 people are still missing.

Kandhamal District Collector Vedbhushan stated that due to three landslides occurring in a single night, the remaining bodies are likely buried more than 30 feet deep. Factors hindering rescue operations include the village's remote location, lack of roads, and the risk of further landslides due to controlled blasting. On 2 November 2026, the Odisha government intensified rescue operations, involving 157 personnel from NDRF, ODRAF, Railways, and Fire Services, along with 25 local volunteers. By Wednesday, 4 November 2026, officials had temporarily suspended the search operation for the 10 missing villagers due to bad weather and the risk of further land subsidence. More than 400 personnel, including the Special Operations Group, mining department officials, and veterinary staff, were deployed in this entire operation.

On the other hand, according to reports from Sandesh and Business Standard, Aryapalli village in Ganjam district is facing a severe problem of coastal erosion. The sea is advancing into the village, posing a threat to the village's existence. This erosion is occurring in the area from the mouth of the Rushikulya river to the Andhra Pradesh border, with Aryapalli being one of the most affected areas. The administration has initiated work to place stones to protect the coastline, but questions have been raised about its long-term effectiveness. After the 2013 'Phailin' cyclone, rehabilitation houses were built for the residents of Aryapalli under the Odisha Disaster Recovery Project (ODRP). However, only 30 percent of the population lives in these houses, while 70 percent have returned to their original coastal homes. Residents say that there is a lack of basic facilities like drinking water and schools at the rehabilitation sites, which is why they are not willing to leave their ancestral homes and land.

Meanwhile, according to a Business Standard report, under the leadership of ReNew company Chairman and CEO Sumant Sinha, the company plans to invest ₹9,000 crore in a 1,500 MW pumped hydro project in Odisha.

Ganjam district is an administrative district located in the southern part of Odisha. Since this district is situated on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, it has been facing natural disasters like frequent cyclonic storms and coastal erosion. The residents of this area are mainly dependent on fishing and farming, and in the past too, the infrastructure of this area has been damaged several times due to natural calamities.