Shirur Landslide: Eshwar Malpe and team joins search for missing truck driver and others

Team Udayavani, Jul 27, 2024, 12:05 PM IST

Karwar/Ankola: Eleven days have passed since the landslide in Shirur, Uttara Kannada, on July 16, which resulted in a truck and its driver Arjun, along with two others, going missing.

The search efforts continue, with Eshwar Malpe’s team arriving in Shirur today to assist in the search operations.

Speaking to Udayavani, Eshwar Malpe explained that the SP and DSP of Uttara Kannada had requested their assistance on Friday to locate the missing truck and its driver. In response, the team arrived in Shirur on Saturday morning and began their operation.

Malpe noted the challenges posed by the strong currents of the Gangavali River, making it difficult to dive and search underwater. The landslide debris, including iron sheets and mud, further complicates visibility and identification of objects underwater, relying solely on tactile detection.

The army and NDRF teams have already been conducting operations at the site, and Malpe’s team will follow their guidance. They aim to confirm whether Arjun is still inside the truck and locate the other missing individuals. The team is committed to staying at the site until the operation is complete.