Dredger will be brought from Goa to search for Arjun; cost to be borne by Karnataka government

BENGALURU: A dredger will be brought from Goa to search for lorry driver Arjun, who went missing in Shirur landslide. It has been decided to deliver the dredger by Monday. The dredger will be brought by water. It is estimated to cost Rs 50 lakh. This amount will be borne by the Government of Karnataka. The decision was taken in a review meeting led by Karwar MLA Satish Krishna Sail, Manjeswaram MLA AKM Ashraf, Uttara Kannada District Collector and SP.

The rent for the dredger is Rs 4 lakh per day. The dredger being brought from the Mandovi River in Goa has to cross two bridges to reach the Gangavali River. Arrangements have to be made for it. It is assessed that with the delivery of the dredger, it will be possible to remove large stones, soil and trees from the Gangavali River and make the search more efficient. There was an attempt to bring a dredger from Thrissur earlier, but it did not materialize due to the high current in the river.

There will be no search tomorrow as it is Independence Day. The search led by the Navy and diver Eshwar Malpe will continue till the arrival of the dredger on Monday.