Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Sep 28: A large crowd, including local representatives, gathered to pay their last respects to Arjun (35), a truck driver who perished in the Shiroor landslide. His mortal remains were taken to his home in Calicut, Kerala, by ambulance.

Arjun’s final journey began on Friday evening in a freezer ambulance from Ankola. When the ambulance reached Talapady at 2 am on Saturday, many Keralites, including MLAs from the Manjeshwar and Kasargod legislative constituencies, along with zilla and gram panchayat members, gathered at the border. After crossing the toll gate, the ambulance was stopped to allow the public to pay their final respects to Arjun, with many offering floral tributes. Social worker Apathbandhava Eshwar Malpe, who risked his life searching for Arjun’s remains and was accompanying the body, was also thanked by the people.

Speaking on the occasion, Kayyar, president of the standing committee of Paivalike gram panchayat, said, "Many representatives from Kasargod and Manjeshwar constituencies have gathered here for Arjun’s final rites. The Karnataka government has already declared Rs 5 lac in compensation, and the Kerala government has also assured support. All block members of the league offer their final salute to Arjun. May God give his family the strength to bear this untimely loss."

Ankola MLA Satish Sail added, "The Shiroor hill collapse was a tragic event in Karnataka, claiming 11 lives. For 71 days, we searched for three bodies. Arjun’s body was found inside his truck on the 71st day, but the bodies of locals Lokesh and Jagannath are still missing. Manjeshwar MLA A K M Ashraf actively cooperated with the operation. After continuous efforts, including the use of dredging machines, Arjun’s body was finally recovered. The Karnataka government has provided Rs 5 lac compensation cheque, which I will hand over to his family. We were searching for a human being, not just a body, and by finding his mortal remains, his soul will attain salvation. I extend my sincere thanks to all the MLAs, especially A K M Ashraf, for their cooperation during the operation."