A lorry driver from Kerala, Arjun, was among the three missing people and the search operation confirmed a few days ago that his truck was likely to be in the downstream area of the Gangavali river. “The search operations were conducted at three points on Saturday and Sunday where parts of the lorry were tracked. However, due to the (weather) situation, we are forced to temporarily suspend it,” said an official.

Eshwar Malpe, a diving expert who is part of the search operations, said, “The force of the water current in the Gangavalli river is unimaginable. With the help of oxygen, I searched below 40 feet. The visibility is also poor, and we cannot continue the search operations in the present scenario.”

An official monitoring deep divers said there are many stones on the riverbed. “Also, high-tension wires have been found entangled, and on Sunday, there was a concern that divers could get stuck on the roots of a banyan tree. There is a risk of their bodies getting injured. Unfortunately, we have no choice but to wait for now,” the official said.

District-in-charge minister Mankal Vaidya said the search operations will continue once the water level recedes. “We consulted experts’ opinions before suspending the search operations. We will resume the operations once the conditions are favourable,” Vaidya said.

The massive landslide occurred around 8.30 am on July 16. It destroyed the Karwar-Mangaluru portion of the 1,640-km National Highway 66, which connects Maharastra’s Panvel with Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. Apart from the damage to the highway, four houses and two high-tension power transmission towers in Ankola were destroyed. Additionally, a tea stall and two trucks were washed away in the landslide. Search operations have recovered eight bodies so far.