Ankola (Karnataka): Kerala's wait for Arjun, which has been going on for 10 days, may finally end today. Crucial efforts are underway in Shiroor to anchor Arjun's lorry, which was found under the river during the Navy's sonar inspection, to the shore. The battery for the DIBODS system to locate objects covered in mud has reached the Karwar station by Rajdhani Express. Earlier, the arrival of the machine's battery had delayed the search. The battery is set to reach the landslide site within an hour.

On Wednesday, it was learned that the lorry was 20 meters away from the shore. Despite the arrival of the Navy’s scuba team, their attempts to retrieve the truck, lying at a depth of 15 meters, were thwarted by strong winds, rain, and currents. Efforts are now focused on bringing divers with the support of state-of-the-art systems.

A team led by Malayali Retired Major General M Indrabalan has arrived to provide technical assistance to the scuba team. The search will be conducted using IBOD, an advanced device for locating underwater objects.

“If the Navy is to conduct an operation in the area where the lorry is suspected, a precise action plan is needed. Divers must possess strong self-confidence due to the intense undercurrent. The exact location of the truck needs to be fixed to aid divers in identifying the orientation of the cabin. We are preparing a technical system for that,” said retired Major General M Indrabalan.

“A radar expert has also been brought in to assist. The exact depth of the lorry is still unknown, with only speculation at this point. Unlike ocean diving, the river’s current poses significant challenges. It is possible the truck is covered with soil, complicating the retrieval. Digging and controlling the water flow could facilitate the divers' efforts,” he added.

Once the cranes arrive to lift the truck from the river, the operation will commence. It is anticipated that the operation could begin by 11:30 am and be completed within two and a half hours.