Dredging ops to begin today

Kozhikode: The search operations for Kozhikode native truck driver Arjun, who went missing after the landslide at Shirur in Karnataka on July 16, will restart on Saturday. The dredging vessel, which has been brought from Goa, has been anchored in Gangavali river at the spot where the truck is believed to be submerged.
Meanwhile, portions of the rope used to tie up timber in the truck could be found in the preliminary excavation carried out by the dredger as part of anchoring at the spot by Friday evening.Also, a metal water tank holder suspected to be that of the truck has been recovered from the spot.
The dredging vessel was taken beneath the rail bridge on Friday morning and was initially berthed at a spot 200m away from the identified location of the truck. It reached the spot to be dredged by 6.30pm.
Karwar MLA Satish Sail said that the dredging operation was the final effort in the search for Arjun. Karnataka govt has directed that dredging can be carried out in the river from 8am to 6pm.
A Navy had conducted an examination of the riverbed using sonar scanners at the spot where the truck is believed to be buried under mud and landslide debris. Three people, including Arjun, who went missing in the landslide, are yet to be found.
Arjun's family had met Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah last week and he assured them that a dredger would be brought in for the search and his govt would bear all the expenses.
Navy divers and local diving expert Ishwar Malpe had recovered a portion of rope used to tie up timber in the truck along with a hydraulic jack present in the truck during searches on August 13-14. But diving operations could not be carried out further due to the presence of a huge pile up of mud and debris.