Karnataka Landslide: Kerala Truck Driver's Family Blames Karnataka Govt For Slow Response In Rescue

For six days, multiple rescue teams have been engaged in the search for Arjun, a truck driver from Kerala who is believed to be trapped along with his vehicle beneath tons of landslide debris in Shirur, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka.

The rescue operations have been hindered by continuous heavy rain and the enormous volume of debris covering both people and heavy-duty vehicles, as reported by The News Minute.

Kerala Family Slams Karnataka For Slow Landslide Rescue

Allegations have been made by Arjun's family that the efforts by Karnataka authorities have been insufficient. According to officials, every possible measure is being taken under the prevailing circumstances. Earth movers and trucks have been working around the clock at both ends of the landslide to clear the debris.

A Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) has also been employed, following GPS signals from the BharatBenz truck driven by Arjun. The GPR, a geophysical method using radio waves to produce subsurface images, has been utilized in the search. The family reported that Arjun's phone rang as recently as July 19, providing hope for his recovery, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Reports indicate that the Army will soon assist with the search efforts. Arjun was driving a BharatBenz truck loaded with approximately 40 tonnes of timber from Belagavi to Kozhikode when he stopped at a wayside eatery near Shirur on July 16. The landslide occurred on the Panvel-Kanyakumari NH-66, which is situated between hills and the Gangavali River.

The landslide, which covered about 300 meters of the highway, also destroyed a tea shop and claimed at least seven lives. Two bodies were subsequently found near the sea after being carried away by the mud and river. Rescue operations have been conducted by national and state disaster response forces and fire services, as per the initial news reports.

While one side of the highway, which borders the river, has been cleared, the other side, where Arjun's truck is believed to be, remains buried under mud. Concerns about the stability of the hill have led to delays in clearing the side next to the hill, as there is fear of further collapse due to ongoing rain.

A team of four experts from the National Institute of Technology (NIT) in Suratkal has been involved in locating the truck using Ground Penetrating Radar. Despite searching a 30-meter radius around the truck's last known location and finding traces of metal, no conclusive results have been achieved.

The GPR's effectiveness is compromised by the mixed soil conditions and the presence of rocks, limiting its ability to detect metal accurately. The operation has faced additional challenges due to intermittent heavy rain, which affects the functionality of the GPR and necessitates its use under limited conditions with umbrellas, as per local media reports.

Rescue efforts were further complicated by the need to lower GPR equipment using a harness and crane due to safety concerns. Concerns have been raised by Arjun's family, with accusations that rescue operations are only progressing when officials are present for photo opportunities.

Prasad, a relative, expressed dissatisfaction with the perceived lack of genuine effort. Arjun's sister, Anju, criticized the delay in requesting Army assistance, accusing authorities of using weather and debris as excuses and calling for more decisive action.