Shirur Tragedy: Driver Arjun laid to rest in hometown; Huge crowd gathers to pay respects

Team Udayavani, Sep 28, 2024, 8:25 PM IST

Calicut (Kerala): Arjun, the driver who was swept away along with his lorry in the landslide at Shirur Ankola on July 16, was laid to rest on Saturday, September 28, at his hometown, Kannadikal. Thousands gathered to bid a final farewell, standing in long queues for hours to pay their respects.

As the ambulance carrying Arjun’s mortal remains arrived in the village, emotional scenes unfolded, with friends, neighbours, and fellow drivers breaking down in tears. The grief of his wife, son, and family members moved the crowd deeply.

Several prominent figures, including Kerala Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran, MPs M.K. Raghavan and Shafi Parambil, MLA K.K. Rema, and Kozhikode District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh, visited Arjun’s residence to pay their final respects.

After 71 days of intense search efforts, Arjun’s body was recovered, and his identity was confirmed through DNA testing. His final journey also saw large gatherings at the Karnataka-Kerala border in Talapady, where many, including local representatives, paid homage.