By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, October 13, 2018: At least 12 people are feared dead and four missing in a landslide triggered by heavy rain in the aftermath of cyclone Titli in Gajapati district, Special Relief Commissioner B P Sethi on Saturday said.

The fatal incident took place when some villagers took shelter in a cave structure following very heavy rainfall last evening, he said.

“There are reports about death of 12 people in a landslide caused by heavy rains in Baraghara village under Rayagada block in Gajapati district. We are verifying them,” Mr Sethi said.

Four people were missing and they were feared trapped under the debris, he said.

The district collector of Gajapati was asked to visit the spot to figure out the situation and give a detailed report, he said. After getting the report, financial assistance will be provided to the affected people as per government provisions, Mr Sethi said.

He said the area where the landslide took place was remote and the roads to location were blocked by uprooted trees.

A rescue team, including personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), rushed to the area which was ravaged by incessant rainfall. The cyclone had made a landfall on Thursday southwest of Gopalpur near Palasa.

Meanwhile, rescue and relief operation gained momentum as water has started receding in other areas, officials said.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, made an aerial survey of some of the affected areas, including Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts. Following the survey, Patnaik chaired a meeting wherein he announced a monetary relief to be paid for 15 days to people affected by the cyclone and resultant flooding in Ganjam and Gajapati districts and Gunupur sub-division of Rayagada district.

“On an average a family of four will be assisted with more than Rs 3,000 as relief,” Patnaik told reporters in Bhubaneswar.

He said the relief amount will be provided at the rate of Rs 60 per adult and Rs 45 per child per day for 15 days.

As many as 1,27,262 people were sheltered in 963 relief centres on Friday, while the NDRF and the Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) were deployed to speed up rescue and relief operations, officials said.

Gajapati, Rayagada, Puri, Kandhamal and Kendrapara districts were affected by floods, while Ganjam was categorised as the “worst-affected”.

Two helicopters requisitioned from the Indian Navy are being engaged in air dropping operation in Ganjam district, said officials.

Mr Patnaik had earlier formed a three-member ministerial team to visit the flood-affected Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts and monitor the operations there.

The state government cancelled the Dusshera vacation of all its employees in southern and central division, including Bhubaneswar, in view of cyclone Titli and subsequent flooding in different parts of the state.

About 60 lakh people were affected in the cyclone and flood and normal life was badly hit in Ganjam, Gajapati and Rayagada districts where the flood situation remained grim as water levels in major rivers such as Rushikulya and Bansadhara crossed danger marks, official sources said.