Rescue mission facing uncertainty; search for Arjun temporarily suspended

ANKOLA: The 13-day search for Arjun was temporarily suspended due to the strong currents in the Gangavali river. With this, uncertainty is looming over the mission. The decision to temporarily suspend the mission was taken considering the fact that it would take four days to bring the crane-mounted barge- which floats in the river to remove soil and mud-by road from Tamil Nadu. A crane-mounted barge is required to remove tons of dirt and mud from the area where the signals were received. The high-level meeting of the Karnataka government held yesterday evening officially informed the matter to Kerala.

Diver Ishwar Malpe and his crew, Navy, NDRF, and SDRF mission troops returned from the area yesterday evening. The tents in the region were also removed. The team, led by Malpe, searched the river multiple times yesterday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in person and requested him to do everything possible to find Arjun. The Karnataka government said that maximum effort was put in by various forces to find Arjun. Minister Mohammed Riyas returned to Kerala on Saturday night, while AK Saseendran returned yesterday afternoon.

MLA MKM Ashraf, who has been camping in Shirur for 10 days, said that an alternative route under Plan B should be considered for the search.

"It should be discussed and decided by the Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of Kerala and Karnataka. Coordination between chief ministers is also needed. I have lost hope in the current mission," he said.

Wood, banyan tree
"Several logs of wood were stuck on the high-tension wire at the place where the third signal was received. There is also a huge banyan tree. There is a lot of mud and large stones in the depths of the river. Without removing them completely, it is not possible to go to the area where the lorry is lying. It is also stated that it is very difficult in the current situation," Ishwar Malpe said.

Will bring dredger from Thrissur
Meanwhile, Karwar MLA Satish Krishna Sail on Sunday said that the search for Arjun will not be called off. Speaking to the media, he said that efforts are being made to continue the search by bringing a dredger from Thrissur to remove the mud and soil.