Raikia, Nov 15: In a remarkable tale of survival, a schoolteacher who went missing following a massive landslide in Odisha's Kandhamal district was found alive on Saturday, 14 days after accidentally falling into a ditch near a hillside. He reportedly survived the ordeal by drinking muddy water.

The teacher, identified as Mohan Maharana, works at a school in Indragarh Panchayat under Raikia block. He was found trapped in a ditch near landslide-hit Dangasi village by a cattle herder who had taken his herd to the area.

According to reports, the cattle herder heard faint cries coming from the ditch. When he approached the spot, he found Maharana trapped inside and immediately alerted nearby villagers. They rushed to the location and rescued him.

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Following the rescue, villagers carried the injured teacher on a makeshift stretcher for nearly 18 kilometres to Raikia Hospital, where he was admitted for treatment. His condition was reported to be critical due to prolonged starvation and the consumption of muddy water.

The incident dates back to the night of October 29, when incessant rainfall triggered a massive landslide that devastated Dangasi village. As the hillside collapsed, villagers fled towards nearby Duba village to save their lives.

Maharana was reportedly on his way to Dangasi village when he accidentally fell into a ditch near the hillside in the darkness. With no one around, his cries for help went unheard.

Continuous heavy rainfall further worsened his situation. His voice reportedly weakened the following day, making it increasingly difficult for him to call for help. Surrounded by dense forest, he remained unnoticed for the next several days.

Meanwhile, his family members launched a search operation after he went missing. However, they failed to trace him and subsequently approached Raikia police. A missing person report was registered, and a search operation was launched, but it yielded no results.

After spending 14 days trapped in the ditch, Maharana was finally spotted by the cattle herder on Saturday, bringing an end to the prolonged search.a