No information about Malayali lorry driver who went missing in Karnataka landslide; GPS signal shows lorry is stuck underground, CM's office intervenes

KOZHIKODE: A lorry driver from Kozhikode has gone missing after the vehicle got involved in an accident following a landslide on the national highway in Ankola in Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka three days ago. Although Arjun, a native of Kozhikode, has been missing for the last three days, no information is available about his whereabouts yet. The lorry got stuck in the landslide while returning to Kozhikode carrying timber. On checking the GPS, it is shown that the lorry is stuck underground.

Arjun's relatives alleged that although they filed a complaint three days ago, the police are not taking action to find Arjun. After the accident, Arjun's phone was switched off for two days. But when Arjun's wife Krishnapriya called him yesterday, his phone rang. However, he did not pick up the phone. After some time, the phone was again switched off.

According to sources, the authorities are taking action only to restore traffic on the national highway by removing the soil from the road.

"It is a fully covered vehicle with AC on. So, the mud must not have gone inside. If so, Arjun can be rescued alive," lorry owner Manaf said.

Arjun's wife and child are also hopeful that he will return safely. His wife said that Arjun was alone in the lorry and that it was a route that he used to travel regularly.

Transport Minister Ganesh Kumar said that efforts are being made to speed up the steps to find Arjun. "We have spoken to the Karnataka Transport Minister about the issue. Kasargod District Collector has been assigned to investigate the matter," the minister said.

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister K Rajan said that the Chief Minister's Office has intervened in the matter.

"Soon after learning about the incident on Thursday evening, an urgent message was sent to the Karnataka government from the Chief Minister's office, the State Emergency Operations Center and the SDMA. The complaint of Arjun's relatives and union members that the search was not speedy enough was brought to the attention of the Karnataka government. They agreed to carry out the rescue operations as soon as possible," the minister said.