Bhatkal: The body of a woman was recovered on Tuesday during the search operation for four individuals, including a truck and its driver, who went missing after a landslide on the Shirur National Highway in Ankola Taluk, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, around 90 km from Bhatkal.

The deceased has been identified as Sunny Gowda (65). However, the missing truck, its driver Arjun, and two other individuals, Jagannath and Lokesh, have yet to be found.

The army team participating in the search operation clarified that no lorry was found under the debris on the hillside and the national highway, leading to concerns that the lorry might have been washed away into the river.

Until yesterday, GPS signals indicated that the lorry was under the wreckage, prompting attempts to locate it with a GPR machine. However, after the army ruled out the possibility of the lorry being under the wreckage, the search operation redirected towards the deep waters of the Gangavalli River. Divers from the Indian Navy are now searching the estuary of the river, as neither Arjun nor his truck was found in the debris on the road. The search is now focused on the river sections close to National Highway 66, where a hill had collapsed during the landslide. The depth of the Gangavalli River, over 25 feet and 161 km long, presents a significant challenge for the rescuers. The landslide's mudflow formed a small island in the river, and GPR readings detected an object at an 8-meter depth.

On Tuesday, July 16, a tragic landslide occurred due to heavy rain in Shirur, Ankola taluk. Seven bodies were initially recovered, with the eighth body found today, eight days after the incident. Three individuals remain missing, and the search operation continues.

Arjun, the lorry driver, was initially believed to be alive under the road debris, leading to a continuous search effort. Despite removing 70% of the road debris, no signs of the lorry or driver have been found. With the army ruling out the presence of the lorry under the road debris, attention has shifted to the river debris.

NDRF teams are now searching the river and the fallen rock debris, but no traces have been found. Kerala MLA Ashraf visited the site, reviewed the operations, and confirmed the diligent efforts underway. Local MLA Satish Sail has been personally monitoring the operation, with the state government and Uttara Kannada district administration fully involved. There is no opposition from the Kerala government, and inter-state relations remain unaffected.

Karwar MLA Satish Sail has been funding the search campaign from his pocket, including Rs 40,000 for the GPR and costs for a large crane from Hubli to remove river debris. He is also working to compensate the victims from the nearby Ulore village.

The Indian Army Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Team, comprising personnel from the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, Belagavi, and the College of Military Engineering, Pune, is also engaged in the exercise. The team is equipped with specialized tools, including ground penetration radars, deep search metal detectors, rafts with outboard motors, and climbing equipment.

Satellite images from the Indian Space Research Organisation on July 16, the day of the massive landslide, suggest the possibility of the truck being pushed into the river.