Shirur: In a significant development after 72 days, the truck belonging to Arjun, a resident of Kozhikode, was recovered from the Gangavali River in Shirur on Wednesday. The truck’s owner, Manaf, confirmed that the cabin found was indeed his vehicle, bringing an end to a prolonged search. Tragically, authorities also discovered a body, presumed to be Arjun’s, inside the vehicle. Efforts are underway to bring the truck’s cabin to the riverbank for further investigation, and DNA testing will be conducted to confirm the identity of the remains.
The search team located the truck in one of the four designated points. Manaf expressed his commitment to Arjun’s family, stating, “Arjun had a belief in me. No matter what happened, I would be there. I have fulfilled my promise to the family.” He emphasized the need to expedite formalities to ensure Arjun’s return home.
Arjun’s brother-in-law, Jithin, who has been present in Shirur since the beginning of the search, reflected on the family’s emotional journey. He noted, “As far as the family is concerned, we were sure that Arjun would not return. But the main thing was to find some remains.”
The search for Arjun and two other individuals missing since the massive landslide in Ankola resumed on Monday. The recovery efforts intensified after a crash guard belonging to Arjun’s truck was found in the river, marking the first significant piece of evidence related to the vehicle. Additional vehicle parts, including metal objects, were also recovered.
Arjun, a truck driver, disappeared from the riverbank following the landslide on July 16. A 13-day search, encompassing both land and water, yielded no clues regarding his whereabouts. Despite extensive efforts and the use of various devices, authorities confirmed no signs of human presence were detected. The search was renewed after a directive from the Karnataka High Court mandated the continuation of recovery operations.
Over the weekend, underwater search expert Eshwar Malpe recovered several vehicle components, such as tyres and a steering wheel, from the river; however, Manaf and local MLA AKM Ashraf verified that these parts did not belong to Arjun’s truck. The discovery of Arjun’s vehicle and the remains offers some closure for the grieving family, marking a solemn end to a harrowing chapter in their lives.
