Bhubaneswar, Aug 6: Growing concerns over landslides in Odisha have triggered preventive measures as the state government identifies 129 vulnerable locations in Gajapati district. Similar risks have also claimed lives in Koraput, Malkangiri, and Rayagada, raising alarm over the region’s exposure to such natural disasters.

Recent landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad and Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi have shaken the nation, prompting Odisha to assess its own mountainous zones. Local communities in Gajapati, recalling past incidents such as the 2006 Gumma block landslide and the devastating 2018 Titli cyclone, live with the persistent fear of recurrence.

To counter possible catastrophes, the Odisha Government has partnered with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham for deeper research and surveys. Collaborative meetings with departments including Water Resources, Forest, and the Meteorological Department are already underway. According to state officials, the MoU signed with Amrita University will enable high-tech assessment and monitoring systems to predict and mitigate future landslides.

Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari and Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan have stressed the need for enhanced precautions, including better road construction, regulated mining, reforestation, and soil conservation. Environmental degradation, deforestation, and erratic weather have all been cited as factors worsening slope instability in tribal regions.

In past disasters like the Titli cyclone, landslides led to the deaths of over 49 villagers in blocks such as Raigada, Nuagada, and Gangabada. Today, villagers from these areas continue to live in fear and urge authorities for sustainable protection mechanisms.

Experts warn that unchecked quarrying, poor infrastructure, and forest loss could trigger larger tragedies unless immediate action is taken.

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