Karnataka ministers to coordinate rescue operation for Arjun, 50 feet soil above lorry

BENGALURU: Karnataka ministers will be approached to coordinate the search for Arjun, a native of Kozhikode, who is trapped under the ground along with a lorry in Karnataka. Minister Mangal Vaidya will soon reach the rescue site. Mangal Vaidya is the in-charge minister of Uttara Kannada district. Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy will also visit the place today.

The search for Arjun was resumed this morning. Intermittent rain makes search challenging. The Navy, NDRF, SDRF Police and Fire Force are carrying out the rescue mission. A radar search has been initiated at the site. A team from Surathkal NIT is conducting the radar inspection. Uttara Kannada Collector Laxmi Priya said that more technical experts will arrive for the rescue mission. The Collector had said that he did not rule out the possibility of the lorry going to the river. Keeping this in mind, radar inspection is also being conducted in the river.

Karnataka SP Narayana said that the river will also be checked to find out if more people were trapped in the accident. The SP also stated that there is soil at a height of 50 feet at the place where the lorry is believed to be. An MVI official from Kerala informed that another 100 meters of soil has to be moved to reach the lorry. MVI Chandrakumar said that six meters of soil was above the lorry.

Four days ago, Arjun along with the lorry fell under the ground. Arjun (30) along with his lorry went missing in Ankola Shirur mountain range of Uttara Kannada district on the Goa-Mangalore national highway. This area is on the bank of river Gangavali.