Search Resumes at Shiruru Landslide Site, Parts of Gas Tanker Recovered
KARWAR: Search operations at the Shiruru landslide site resumed on Saturday, yielding recovery of some of the parts of a gas tanker that were buried under debris in the Gangavali River.
Led by Superintendent of Police Narayana M, the effort involved a team of SDRF personnel, local police, port officials, and divers, including Mumbai-based experts and Eshwar Malpe. MLA Satish Sail supervised and guided the operation.
The search, which utilized a dredger machine and a barge, resulted in the recovery of two wheels and some parts of the tanker. The tanker part was found floating in the water after the landslide but the wheel and other parts of the vehicle part were missing.
Efforts are on to locate the other parts of the tanker, a truck driven by Arjun of Kerala, and the bodies of three missing victims.
SP Narayana expressed hope after Saturday’s discovery, noting, “We have recovered parts of the tanker and will focus our search on other identified areas.”
The landslide, which struck on July 16, claimed at least 11 lives and caused significant damage along the National Highway. Eight bodies have been recovered, while three victims, a truck driver from Kerala and two local villagers remain missing. It is suspected that the landslide may have swept debris into the river. Due to the challenges posed by strong river currents, the search operation faced significant difficulty. However, with the rainfall subsiding, authorities have resumed their efforts with renewed vigor.
The local administration’s efforts have been widely appreciated by the people for their persistence in conducting the search under difficult conditions.