Ankola, KARNATAKA: Search resumes for missing Kozhikode trucker Arjun for the 10th day at Shirur where massive landslide on 16 July along national highway killed least 8 and has 3 still missing. Heavy rains and river’s undercurrent, that’s thrice over the safety limit, continues to hamper searchers including deep divers of the Navy attempting to reach Arjun’s truck located two days ago as firmly lodged in the riverbed.
Rescue operations were planned to continue through the night yesterday however heavy rains in the Orange Alert Ankola, made advancing operations impossible. The weather department forecasts further intense rainfall for the region.
Meanwhile, the iBoard scanner has not detected human presence inside the truck yet. Given signal disruptions in cold conditions at the river’s bottom, only divers can confirm Arjun’s presence or otherwise once they manage to enter the truck’s cabin. The river’s current is presently 6 knots(roughly 11 km per hour), which is thrice the strength 2- knot safety limit. Attempting to dive in at this point would be suicidal, said authorities.
As per instructions of the Chief Minister, Ministers AK Saseendran and Mohammad Riyas will reach Shirur this afternoon, 26 July.
