SHIRUR (UTTARA KANNADA): Seven people died in Tuesday’s landslide at Shirur in Uttara Kannada district, while many are still feared trapped under the rubble. The search and rescue operation, which resumed on Wednesday morning at a snail’s pace, had to be stopped owing to heavy rain and minor landslides at the spot.
“The hillock, part of which came down on Tuesday, continues to slide, posing a threat to NDRI and other rescue personnel. “Heavy rain is causing landslides and we cannot force rescue personnel to continue with the operation,” said an official overseeing the rescue work.
Police personnel have been deployed to prevent people from going near the hillock. The soil from the hillock, which caved in on the four-lane highway, slid further into the Gangavalli river, affecting its flow.
Local residents claim that the slush might have carried the bodies into the river. In support of their claim, they pointed out that four bodies were recovered from the river and not from under the rubble near the highway.
With some let up in the rain, the rescue operation commenced on Tuesday evening. However, the operation was called off after a few hours because of rain. Although the operation resumed on Wednesday morning, it was stopped after 9 am. The rainfall is so heavy that work on clearing the mud from the highway had to be stopped.
Geological Survey of India team visits spot
Because of heavy rain, the hillock has turned into a waterfall. With water flowing down the hillock continuously, it is impossible for rescue personnel to continue their operation. “We have stopped the search and rescue operation considering the threat factor. There are cracks in many places where the landslide took place. We did not want to take any risk. We will resume the operation Thursday morning, Lakshmi Priya, Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada told TNIE.
“We have a Met report stating that the intensity of rainfall might reduce by Thursday. We will resume the operation on Thursday morning,” she said. She said more people were still under the rubble. On the alleged unscientific roadwork that led to the tragedy, she said she will not comment on it now. “Our priority is to resume the search and rescue operation,” she added.
Meanwhile, a team from Geological Survey of India visited the spot on Wednesday.