Kerala CM seeks Defence Minister's aid to locate missing driver in Karnataka landslide

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday requested Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to deploy additional divers and advanced equipment, such as Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), to search for the missing lorry driver, Arjun. 

Arjun, a native of Kerala, has been missing for more than 10 days following a landslide in Shirur village, Karnataka. Despite ongoing efforts, his whereabouts remain unknown.

In a letter to Singh, Vijayan emphasised the urgent need for the Defence Minister's intervention in the rescue operations. He urged Singh to provide additional support from the Indian Navy, which has expert personnel capable of deep diving and advanced equipment that could substantially aid in the search.

"I request your immediate personal intervention for deploying additional divers from various naval commands, including from southern and eastern, along with advanced equipment, like Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), as this will help the rescue operations in a big way," the CM said.

Vijayan also informed Singh that the Kerala government was in constant contact with the Karnataka government for real-time updates on the rescue efforts.

In a parallel effort, Vijayan wrote to his Karnataka counterpart, Siddaramaiah, detailing the assistance sought from the Centre. 

"I have written a letter to the Union Minister of Defence, requesting his urgent personal intervention for providing additional divers and advanced equipment from the Indian Navy," he said in his letter to the Karnataka CM.

He added that he believed the involvement of expert divers and advanced equipment from the Indian Navy could significantly enhance the rescue operations.

Additionally, Vijayan assured Siddaramaiah that the Kerala government remained in continuous communication with the District Administration in Shirur to receive updates on the search for Arjun. PTI