Ankola: In the wake of the devastating landslide that struck Ankola's Shirur in Uttara Kannada on Tuesday, an intensive search operation is underway to locate those missing, including lorry driver Arjun from Kozhikode, Kerala. The family of Arjun has expressed deep disappointment over the delay in initiating the rescue operation.

Arjun's sister, Anju, voiced her frustration to the media, criticizing officials for not starting an intensive search immediately after the incident. She mentioned that the family had filed a missing person report with the Ankola police on Tuesday, fearing that Arjun might have been trapped in the landslide, but the search only began on Friday. "What should we expect now? So far, no intensive search was carried out for Arjun," Anju said, tearfully.

Adding to the family's grievances, a member stated that officials focused on clearing the road and removing debris from the National Highway, neglecting the urgent need to rescue those buried under the debris. The family has demanded that the army be deployed for the search operations.

In response to the family's concerns, a team of National Institute of Technology (NIT) officials has started using Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to locate Arjun's truck, which is believed to be buried under the mud.

Arjun's brother-in-law Jithin and the truck owner Manaf are currently in Shirur, determined to stay until Arjun is found. Manaf remains hopeful, citing Arjun's health and resilience. "The truck carried 10 litres of water and food. If the situation is favourable, he will definitely fight and return to life," he stated.

The Navy and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel are continuing the search operation, giving Arjun's family and neighbors hope for his safe return. A team of officials from Kerala also joined the rescue efforts on Saturday morning. Chandrakumar, a Motor Vehicle Inspector from Kerala, indicated that the truck might be trapped under six meters of mud. By 11 am on Saturday, about 400 meters of mud had been removed from the site, and officials are optimistic about locating the truck soon.

The landslide, which occurred amid heavy rain and a Red alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), has caused severe damage. The Uttara Kannada administration has confirmed that seven bodies have been recovered so far, with more than ten people feared buried under the debris or swept away by the Sharavati river.

Simultaneously, a search is also being conducted in the nearby Gangavali river for the missing individuals. Rescue operations continue despite the challenging weather conditions, with officials striving to find all those affected by the disaster.