Bhatkal: The truck that went missing in a tragic landslide two months ago near Shirur in Ankola taluk of Uttar Kannada, approximately 90 km from Bhatkal, was found today, Saturday.

It is noteworthy that the disappearance of driver Arjun and his truck from Kerala had remained a mystery since the horrific landslide, with all efforts to locate them having failed until now.

On Saturday, a third attempt to locate the missing truck was launched, during which a team led by expert diver Ishwar Malpe successfully found the submerged vehicle in the Gangavali River. The team managed to tie ropes to the truck’s tires, which was lying at the riverbed.

The next step involves pulling the truck out of the river with the help of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the fire service, for which preparations are currently underway.

It should be recalled that 11 people lost their lives in the landslide during heavy rains on July 16, with eight bodies recovered so far. Previous search operations to find the truck had been unsuccessful. Today’s third operation utilized a backhoe dredger, cranes, barges, and boats to assist in the recovery effort.

The missing truck was found upside down in the riverbed, buried under soil, stones, and debris, which were removed by the dredging machine.

Speaking to SahilOnline over the phone, Ishwar Malpe confirmed that the truck’s wheels had been secured with ropes and the vehicle would be pulled out with the help of a crane on Sunday.