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The devastating landslide at Shirur in Uttara Kannada, India, on July 16 continues to have tragic consequences, with the search for missing truck driver Arjun Mooladikuzhiyil and others entering its fifth day. Despite relentless efforts by the NDRF and state agencies, the challenging terrain and persistent heavy rain have hampered the search operations, leaving relatives of the missing individuals frustrated and seeking greater intervention. The family of Arjun, a 30-year-old truck driver from Kozhikode, Kerala, has voiced their deep dissatisfaction with the current search efforts, expressing a lack of faith in the state authorities and calling for the intervention of the Army. They have reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, pleading for the deployment of military personnel to expedite the search. The family emphasizes the urgency of the situation, highlighting their readiness to provide support with volunteers on the ground.
Abhirami, Arjun's sister, has spoken out about the frustration and anxiety felt by the family, citing an incident where a police officer manhandled one of the truck owners and a Kerala-based rescue worker. The family alleges that the Karnataka police delayed the filing of an FIR for two days, despite being informed on the day of the landslide. These delays, coupled with the lack of transparency surrounding the rescue efforts, have fueled the family's concerns and demands for more efficient and proactive action from the authorities. The relatives also point out the stark contrast between the recovery of bodies and vehicles and the lack of information regarding the whereabouts of the missing individuals, raising further anxieties about the progress of the search operation.
The growing dissatisfaction with the rescue efforts has also sparked protests in Arjun's native place of Kannadikkal. Residents, cutting across political affiliations, took to the streets, blocking roads after receiving news that the search had been halted due to inclement weather. The protests highlight the frustration and anger felt by the community, accusing the Karnataka government of “apathy” and inaction in conducting effective search operations. The relatives of Arjun and the residents of Kannadikkal are united in their demands for a thorough and comprehensive search operation that leaves no stone unturned until Arjun is found. They insist that the search operations should not be halted until his whereabouts are determined, emphasizing the desperate need for concrete action to bring closure to this tragedy.
Source: Shirur landslide: Five days on, search continues for Arjun in Kerala