K'taka landslide: Search operations resume for Arjun; underwater visibility at zero

Ankola (Karnataka): The search for Kozhikode resident Arjun, who went missing after a landslide in Uttara Kannada, resumed on Friday.

Efforts to carry out rescue operations in the river have been severely hampered due to adverse weather conditions and the overflowing Gangavalli River. The river's current flow remains a concern, moving at six knots. Even if the current reduces to three knots, it is still considered hazardous for divers. 

According to the Defense Public Relations Officer (PRO), the underwater visibility is zero, making it impossible to use cameras for inspection. Instead, sonar technology and drones are being utilized to carry out the necessary checks. 

To mitigate the intensity of the water flow, silting measures are being implemented to divert downstream flows. Efforts are underway to bring more earthmoving machinery to the site to aid in these measures.

Meanwhile, Kerala ministers PA Mohammad Riyas and AK Saseendran will hold discussions with district panchayat authorities to decide the next steps in the rescue operation. It will focus on coordinating efforts and enhancing the effectiveness of the ongoing rescue activities.

Earlier, Arjun's Bharat Benz lorry was found 15 meters deep in the river and 20 metres away from the bank. The lorry was found after the search for the past nine days

The search was done using sophisticated equipment, including a deep search detector. Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda confirmed that the lorry was found at the bottom of the river. The Army, Navy, NDRF, Fire Force, police and other volunteers participated in the rescue operation. Police, Motor Vehicle Department and Fire Rescue Service personnel from Kerala were also on the mission.

The soil was covered here at a height of about 10 meters. The heavy rains in the area for days had created a big problem for the rescue operation. The rescuers found the lorry after overcoming all odds.

On the morning of July 16, Arjun (30), a native of Kannadikkal in  Kozhikode, had halted on the Panvel-Kanyakumari National Highway near the Karnataka-Goa border when the tragedy struck. His lorry's GPS was last located at the place where 10 people, including a tea shop owner, died in a landslide.