After Two Months’ Wait, Arjun’s Truck Recovered From Gangavali River; Body Found Inside
The truck belonging to Arjun, a Kozhikode native who had been missing for over two months, was recovered from the Gangavali River in Karnataka on Wednesday. The discovery brings an end to a lengthy search operation following a massive landslide in Ankola’s Shirur on July 16. Arjun, a truck driver, had disappeared from the riverbank during the catastrophic event, sparking a desperate search that lasted nearly two and a half months.
Manaf, the owner of the truck, confirmed that the cabin retrieved from the river was indeed from Arjun’s vehicle. Authorities also found a body inside the truck, believed to be that of Arjun, though DNA testing will be conducted to confirm the identity.
The search for Arjun and two others who went missing after the landslide resumed earlier this week. On Monday, a crash guard from Arjun’s truck was found in the river using a dredger machine. This marked the first significant breakthrough in the search, which had been hindered by adverse weather and strong river currents. Several parts of the vehicle, including tyres and a steering wheel, were recovered by underwater search expert Eshwar Malpe, but these did not belong to Arjun’s truck, according to Manaf and Manjeshwar MLA AKM Ashraf.
The operation, which involved multiple agencies including the National Disaster Response Force, had faced numerous challenges. Heavy rains and turbulent waters had hampered rescue efforts, even forcing the temporary suspension of drone and scuba diving operations. However, renewed efforts were initiated after the Karnataka High Court ordered the continuation of the search.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier intervened, requesting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s assistance in the operation. Despite the involvement of the Indian Navy and the deployment of advanced technology, no clues were found for weeks.
The body found in the truck marks a sombre conclusion to the search for Arjun. His family had already provided DNA samples to authorities in July, which will now be used to confirm whether the remains are indeed Arjun’s. Further examination of the vehicle and the body is ongoing.
The recovery brings a degree of closure to the family after months of uncertainty, though the loss remains deeply felt in Kozhikode and beyond.
