Trucker Arjun: finally, Kerala also quits recovery efforts

Thiruvananthapuram: Stating that the continuing search for trucker Arjun, who is believed to be lost after a landslide in Shiroor, will bear no fruit, Kerala is also withdrawing recovery efforts, which was already abandoned by Karnataka. The technical department of the Kerala Agricultural University that visited Shiroor handed over a report to the Collector, who is also the chairman of the Thrissur Disaster Management Committee, on Thursday, indicating the same.

Three people, including Arjun, a native of Kozhikode's Kannadikkal, went missing in the Gangavali river following a landslide in Shiroor. The lorry driven by Arjun has been detected in the depths of the river. The Karnataka government and navy searched for 13 days but could not find him under inclement weather and a rough river.

Though Karnataka abandoned rescue efforts, Kerala decided to continue, and the Technical Department of Kerala Agricultural University was sent to the disaster spot on the instructions of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The Kerala Agricultural University Technical Department team that examined the depth and flow of the river and spoke to the North Karnataka district administration also submitted a report stating that it was impossible to remove the soil and take out Arjun's lorry. It is reported that the report submitted stated that the machine for removing soil in the river cannot be maintained. It is likely that the state government will abandon the Shiroor mission in the situation where Wayanad has faced a major disaster.

The death toll in landslides in Wayanad reached 333 on Friday, and the count is still expected to rise since 281 more are still missing. Thermal scanners employed by the army have found the presence of life under debris in Wayanad's Mundakkai, one of the disaster-hit spots.