Bhubaneswar, October 31:Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed officials to intensify search and rescue operations in landslide-affected areas and deploy advanced technology to locate missing persons feared trapped beneath debris following Cyclone ‘Arnab’.

A massive search operation is underway to trace 12 people who went missing after a rain-triggered landslide hit a hilltop village along the Ganjam-Kandhamal district border.

The state government has mobilised 170 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and Special Operation Group (SOG) to locate the missing villagers and carry out rescue operations.

During a high-level review meeting attended by Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, Majhi emphasised that saving lives remained the government's top priority. He instructed all concerned departments to expedite rescue efforts and ensure better coordination among response teams.

The government has also sought assistance from the Railways to deploy a Chain Pulley System to facilitate the safe evacuation of people from the affected areas.

Meanwhile, an advanced Seismic Life Detection Unit of the Indian Navy is being airlifted to G. Udayagiri to detect signs of life among people who may be buried beneath soil and debris.

Also Read: Search operation continues for 12 missing persons after landslide in Ganjam-Kandhama border

The Chief Minister also directed officials to restore electricity, road connectivity and other essential services on a priority basis. He stressed the need to keep cyclone shelters prepared, ensure timely evacuation of people from vulnerable areas and maintain sufficient stocks of food, drinking water and medicines to deal with any future cyclone threat.