Phulbani: A fortnight after he went missing during a landslide in Odisha’s Kandhamala district, a schoolteacher was found alive and rescued from a ditch near a hill.
The man was identified as Mohan Maharana, a teacher at a school in Indragarh panchayat in Raikia block.
According to sources, the teacher was found in a ditch near the landslide-ravaged Dangasi village on Saturday. He reportedly survived for 14 days by drinking muddy water accumulated in the ditch.
After his rescue, villagers carried him on a makeshift stretcher for around 18 km to Raikia Hospital, where he was admitted for treatment. His health condition was reported to be critical.
The incident took place on October 29 night when incessant rain caused by cyclone Arnab triggered a massive landslide that wiped out Dangasi village. As the hillside collapsed, villagers ran towards nearby Duba village to save their lives.
Maharana was proceeding towards the village and accidentally fell into a ditch near the hill due to darkness. His cries for help went unheard as no one was around. After being continuously drenched due to heavy rain, his voice weakened the following day, making it difficult for him to call out for assistance. Surrounded by forest, he remained unnoticed.
After the impact of the storm subsided, his family members launched a search but failed to trace him. They subsequently approached Raikia police, following which a missing person case was registered, and a search operation was initiated. However, there was no breakthrough.
On Saturday, a cattle herder heard a faint voice coming from the ditch. When he went near the spot he found Maharana trapped inside and informed the villagers following which the teacher was rescued and rushed to hospital.