Arjun: Body of Kerala Driver Recovered After 72 Days of Intensive Search Following Shirur Landslide
Tragic End to a Long Search
After an arduous and unprecedented 72-day search, the body of Arjun, a lorry driver from Kerala, was finally recovered from the Gangavalli River in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district. Arjun had gone missing on July 16 when a devastating landslide struck Shirur village, sweeping his Bharat Benz truck, loaded with 40 tonnes of timber, off the Panvel-Kanyakumari NH-66.
The Incident and Search Efforts
On the fateful day, Arjun was driving his truck from Belagavi to Kozhikode when the landslide occurred. It is believed that he had stopped his vehicle near a tea shop owned by Lakshman Naik to take a rest, a routine he followed during his trips. The landslide crushed the cabin of the lorry, and despite initial efforts, the truck and Arjun's body remained submerged in the Gangavalli River.
The search operations, which involved multiple agencies including the Navy, Army, Karnataka State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and experts from the National Institute of Technology (NIT), were repeatedly disrupted by heavy rains and strong river currents. The use of drone technology and IBOD (Inertial-Based Object Detection) played a crucial role in locating the submerged truck.
Resumption and Breakthrough
After a temporary pause due to adverse weather conditions, the search operations resumed on September 21. The Uttara Kannada district administration deployed a floating craft dredger brought in from Goa to help clear the silt in the river and recover the truck. This effort was facilitated after the Karnataka government agreed to bear the cost of over Rs 1 crore for the dredging equipment.
On September 25, the dredging team, led by Retired Major General Indrabalan Nair, successfully located and retrieved the truck from the river. The body found inside the cabin of the truck is suspected to be Arjun's, and it has been sent for DNA testing to confirm the identity.
Emotional Relief and Ongoing Search
The recovery of Arjun's body brings a sense of closure to his family, who had been waiting anxiously for over two months. Arjun's uncle, Abhilash, expressed relief and gratitude towards the relentless efforts of the rescue teams and the Karnataka government.
However, the search is not yet over. Two other persons, Jagannath Naik and Lokesh Naik, who also went missing in the landslide, are still to be found. The family of Jagannath Naik has demanded that the search operations continue until the duo is traced.
Community and Government Response
The Kerala government, particularly Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, had been actively involved in pressing for the resumption of search operations. Vijayan had written to his Karnataka counterpart, Siddaramaiah, requesting continued efforts to trace Arjun.
The recovery of Arjun's body has brought the death toll from the landslide to nine, with the incident highlighting the devastating impact of natural disasters and the importance of coordinated rescue efforts.
As the community mourns the loss of Arjun and continues to search for the remaining missing individuals, the incident serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and determination of those involved in the search and rescue operations.