Kozhikode/Shirur: The search for three people including Kozhikode native Arjun, who went missing in a massive landslide, was severely hindered by heavy rain in Shirur on Friday. The downpour began just as Indian Navy scuba divers were preparing to dive into the deep waters of the Gangavali River. Authorities on Friday assured that the search operation will continue though no human presence was found in the truck.
Meanwhile, another signal indicating that Arjun's truck was at the riverbed was received on Friday. "All the coordinates received from three different sources-ISRO, Army and Navy- pointed to a single location. However, the vehicle has moved a little further as the logs on the truck have floated away. We need to get the new coordinates. Since the water current is above 6 to 7 knots, we are trying to send a diver into the river after building a platform across the water. This would ensure that the diver's life is not endangered in the mission," Dakshina Kannada district collector Lakshmi Priya said after a high-level meeting on Friday. She added that no human presence was detected from the truck during the search conducted using various devices.
Kerala Minister for PWD and Tourism P A Mohammed Riyas, who is in Shirur to oversee the rescue efforts, informed the media that the search operations will continue till the truck is recovered.
Visuals aired on Manorama News showed the divers anchoring their boat on an island formed by the landslide debris in the river. However, their plans were thwarted due to the rain and turbulent waters. On Friday morning, the army resumed the search using advanced drones to locate the truck suspected to be submerged in the river. However, this search was also called off due to the heavy rain.
According to reports, huge rafts will be used in Gangavali river for search operation. Defence PRO Athul Pillai told Manorama News that divers were unable to search the deep waters due to strong currents. In addition to army and navy personnel, members of the National Disaster Response Force are also involved in the search. Dakshina Kannada district collector Lakshmi Priya stated that efforts were intensified on the eleventh day of the search to detect any signs of human presence in the riverbed. More machinery is expected to be brought to the site to aid the mission.
Arjun, a truck driver from Kozhikode, went missing when a massive landslide struck National Highway 66 at Shirur in Ankola.
