'Arjun's truck not under debris; will stop search in landslide', says Karnataka Minister

MANGALURU: After five days of turmoil and anticipation, Karnataka Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda informed the media about the decision to stop the search in the mountainous landslide after officials made it certain that the lorry was not trapped under the debris.

The rescue mission to find driver Arjun (30), a Kozhikode native, has thus hit a roadblock with ambiguity. 40 Indian army officials from Belagavi reached the landslide site in Ankola Shirur National Highway by Sunday noon.

In Shiroor, 98 per cent of the landslide has been removed. No more soil can be taken because of the possibility of landslides. The Geological Survey of India warned about more aggravated landslides in the area. Meanwhile, the minister said it would be a 'herculean task' to proceed with rescue operations in river Gangavali.

“We are all people of India and there had been no discrimination in the rescue operation conducted” clarified the minister, despite criticism over the delay from police in starting the search operation.

The Army will have the final say in the decision to proceed with the search operation in Gangavali River. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also visited the accident site. It has been raining heavily in Shiroor since Sunday morning, making it impossible to carry out the search operation.