Had forest officials not razed their homes in the plains, the lives of 22 Irsalwadi villagers could have been saved, according to Boma Bihir. Two years ago, a small mudslide created panic among the villagers and gradually, most of them settled down the hillock. However, forest officials allegedly demolished their houses twice since, Bihir and other villagers said on Friday. The 85-year-old man, who has arrived from a village nearby, climbed for two hours to look for his daughter and her family who are still trapped under the debris from the landslide on Wednesday night.

Most villagers of Irsalwadi, now buried under debris and muck, painted the same picture of apathy and neglect on the part of the forest officials. A few villagers said they tried to settle in the plains even six months back, but their houses were demolished. Of the 48-odd huts, merely six-eight are standing intact, while the remaining houses are buried deep under mud and rocks. Relatives and family members, who live in nearby villages, have been assisting the rescue teams, hoping to find their loved ones alive or even their bodies.