Ganjam, November 2: As the search for missing persons continues at the landslide-hit Gidipabali village in Ganjam district, three specially trained sniffer dogs - Rocky, Vicky and Sultan - have joined the rescue operation, bringing an additional layer of specialised search capability to the multi-agency mission.

Working alongside personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Fire Services Department, the canine rescuers are assisting teams in the search operations, which are continuing amid formidable geographical and logistical challenges.

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Rocky and Vicky have been deployed by the NDRF, while Sultan is part of the Odisha Fire Services team. Their deployment forms an important component of the coordinated search effort at the landslide site.

The canine teams are working alongside a large contingent of rescue personnel drawn from different central and state agencies. Odisha's Special Operations Group (SoG) has deployed two teams comprising 42 personnel, while the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) has engaged 15 personnel. The NDRF has mobilised two teams comprising 34 personnel, along with four officers.

The Fire Services Department has also deployed 35 personnel, while the Indian Railways has mobilised 35 rescuers. A 12-member team from the Animal Resources Development Department is also assisting in the operation.

Along with the trained sniffer dogs, specialised advanced detection equipment has been deployed to improve the search operation. The NDRF has brought a life detector and a radar-based device to help trace the survivors. 

The Indian Railways has provided two generator sets, two drilling machines and 100 gelatin sticks for the operation. The Fire Services Department has supplied one generator set, while ODRAF has deployed one drilling machine.

Local workers have also been engaged to further intensify and improve the effectiveness of the search and rescue operation.

Meanwhile, the bodies of two more persons were recovered from the landslide-hit Gidipabali village in Ganjam’s Bhanjanagar block on Sunday, taking the total death toll due to cyclone Arnab-linked incidents in the state to six.

Notably, 12 persons went missing following the devastating landslide on October 28. While two bodies have been recovered so far, the search for the remaining 10.