​​​​​​​Bhubaneswar, November 3: Search and rescue operations are continuing at landslide-hit Gidipabali village, located along the Ganjam-Kandhamal district border in Odisha. Two more bodies have been recovered, while 11 people are still reported missing.

Odisha Fire and Emergency Services Director General Sudhanshu Sarangi on Tuesday briefed the media in Bhubaneswar about the ongoing rescue operations and the challenges being faced by emergency teams at the site.

Sarangi said a massive rescue operation was underway as a large portion of the mountain had collapsed, burying the area under huge rocks and debris. Some of the boulders weigh more than 10 tonnes, making it extremely difficult for rescue teams to remove them.

He said railway authorities had provided chains and pulleys to move the massive boulders, but the efforts had not yielded the desired results.

Around 250 rescue personnel from the Fire and Emergency Services, along with nearly 100 labourers, have been deployed at the site. All possible efforts are being made to locate and rescue those trapped under the debris, he added.

Meanwhile, explosive experts from the Railways and a team from the Mining Department are manually drilling the massive boulders to insert explosive charges and break them into smaller pieces to facilitate the rescue operation.

Sarangi said rescue teams were working round the clock despite difficult conditions and the challenging terrain. The operation is continuing to trace the remaining missing persons.