Govt to give aid of Rs 4L each to bereaved families
Rescue teams have recovered the bodies of 15 persons, who were killed in a landslide at Barghara village under Rayagada block of Gajapati district, informed district Superintendent of Police Amulya Kumar Das on Sunday.
The last rites of the deceased would be conducted on the day in the village, Das said.
A medical team reached the spot and carried out post-mortem of the bodies, he added.
The State Government on Saturday rushed a team of rescuers after media reported that at least 12 persons, including five children, lost their lives while four others were missing due to a landslide in the 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.
Meanwhile, the State Government on Sunday decided to provide an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased, who lost their lives in the Gajapati landslide tragedy, informed Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi in Bhubaneswar.
Sethi said, “68 families out of 75 residing in the Barghar village under Rayagad block in the district were evacuated to safety by the district administration due to cyclone Titli as a precautionary measure.”
The seven families, which refused to shift to safer location, later became victims of the landslide, the SRC said and added that the compensation would be given to the seven bereaved families.