The search operation for Arjun, a Malayalee lorry driver from Kozhikode who has been missing since July 16 after his truck was caught in a massive landslide in a village in Karnataka, continues as his family expresses frustration over delays in rescue efforts.
Arjun's sister informed the media that the Karnataka police were notified on the day of his disappearance, and further details, including the GPS location of his truck, were provided. However, there has been no information about his whereabouts since then.
"If there is so much delay, what hope should we hold on to? If they did not have the requisite facilities there, they should have brought it from where the same is available," she lamented, as per a report on PTI.
Karnataka Continues With Rescue Operation
Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada district, Lakshmi Priya K, told PTI that seven bodies have been identified so far, with three more, including Arjun, still missing. "We are unable to locate the lorry yet both inside the river as well as on the landslide site; it is not seen yet. We are doing the restoration work," she explained.
Lakshmi Priya also mentioned that a body recovered today could be that of a driver from Tamil Nadu. "We have got only the lower portion of the body. So, we are unable to identify whose body it is. It is a male body. So, it could be that of the driver from Tamil Nadu," she said, adding that a DNA test is being conducted to confirm the identity.
An MVD officer at the site expressed optimism about finding the truck by afternoon. Uttar Kannada SP Narayan M said, "Three people are still missing... The problem is that river flows from there and landslides are continuously happening. We are cleaning the mud continuously... Whatever progress we make in rescue operations, the briefing will be provided. It's a very narrow road, we are doing our level best..."
Kerala Minister Visits Driver's Family
Kerala Forest Minister A K Saseendran visited Arjun's family on Saturday morning and assured them that rescue operations have been expedited following intervention from the Kerala government and prominent political parties in the state. "Hope it will be fruitful," he said.
The minister stated that besides a team of Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) officials from Kerala, a police team from the state was also present at the landslide site, providing regular updates on the rescue efforts. Advanced equipment like ground-penetrating radar and metal detectors have been brought to aid the search.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has been in touch with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah regarding the issue, pushing for a swift resolution.
In a letter to Siddaramaiah, Vijayan expressed the family's growing concern over Arjun's whereabouts and requested that the Karnataka Chief Minister consider using ground-penetrating radar to help locate any vehicles potentially buried under the debris, as per the report.
Arjun's family remains hopeful as his mobile phone was ringing as recently as Friday morning, and the GPS tracker on his truck was emitting a signal, indicating the vehicle's location beneath the debris.
The family last spoke to Arjun on Monday, and there has been no contact since then. Six bodies have been recovered since the landslide on July 16, which also prompted the temporary suspension of vehicular traffic on National Highway 66.