'Whether to continue rescue operation or not ?'; Karnataka govt to take crucial decision

BENGALURU: The Uttara Kannada district administration left it to the Karnataka government to decide whether to continue the search for Kozhikode resident Arjun, who went missing in the Shirur landslide.

The decision was taken in a high-level meeting held on Saturday morning. The administration remains clueless on acquiring the humongous cost for the dredger; planned to be transported from Goa. Minding the obstacles, Uttara Kannada District Collector Lakshmi Priya decided to send a letter to the Karnataka Principal Secretary clarifying the expenditure figures. It is estimated that the cost of delivering the dredger will be around Rs one crore.

The Uttara Kannada administration is apprehensive of spending such humungous money, as they believe it to be no use other than ensuring that the lorry owner gets his insurance. The company told the media that the dredger could be delivered only after a week. Karwar MLA Satish Sail also stated that it will take five days for the machine to reach Shirur. During last day's search, the rope and metal parts of the lorry were found in the Gangavali River. Lorry owner Manaf identified the rope as the ones used in his truck.

On the 16th of last month, Arjun, a native of Kannadikkal, Kozhikode, went missing in a landslide in Karnataka. Apart from Arjun, Karnataka natives Lokesh and Jagannath are also to be found. The main obstacle to the search is the silt lying on the river bed.