Karnataka landslide: Pitted against hostile weather Navy halts search for Arjun

Ankola: Up against the hostile weather, attempts to rescue Kozhikode native Arjun, who has gone missing in the landslide that occurred in Shiroor, Karnataka, have failed to yield any breakthroughs on the 10th day as well, leaving friends and relatives in deep despair and frustration.

The Navy has informed that searching the Gangavali River has become impossible due to heavy undercurrents persisting after days of heavy rainfall in the region. Sources indicate that drone operations in the area are ongoing.

According to official reports, the undercurrent in the river is estimated to be moving at a speed of 5 to 6 knots. A Navy team of three members attempted to enter the river twice, but had to return to the banks due to the strong current flow. Navy officials have stated that the conditions are too risky for divers to intervene. The boats provided by the Navy and NDRF have not been utilised yet.

There are unconfirmed information suggesting that the search operations might be suspended by Thursday evening, although no official announcement has been made so far. The Deputy Commissioner has stated that details regarding Thursday's rescue attempts will be shared with the media in the evening. Additionally, Kanwar MLA will address the media during this time.

Despite reduced rainfall on Thursday, search efforts have been hindered by the strong undercurrents in the Gangavali River. The muddy water and rapid flow have posed challenges for the rescue teams attempting to enter the river.

Navy sources in Kochi informed Mathrubhumi.com that while they detected signals from Arjun's lorry in the river, the heavy undercurrents have prevented further rescue attempts. The expert swimming teams are unable to conduct their search due to the hostile conditions, according to Navy officials. The Navy used their advanced portal polar system to identify the signal from the lorry on Wednesday. Officials mentioned that if the swimming team could reach the signal's location, they could assess whether further actions could be taken.

The muddy river water has hindered the effectiveness of the Navy's advanced portal polar system. Despite identifying possible locations, the swimming team is not able to initiate its operations due to the strong undercurrents in the river, an official stated.