Karnataka HC disposes of PIL seeking Army intervention in Shirur landslide rescue ops

After taking note of the submissions, the court observed that the situation at the site had gone back to normal and that all but two bodies had been found. The compensation with regard to the two missing people had also been fixed at Rs 5 lakh each, the court noted.

Seven people died and two others went missing after a landslide hit Shirur village in Uttara Kannada district on the morning of July 16. Among the missing persons whom the search focused on was a truck driver from Kerala, Arjun, who was swept away in his truck into the Gangavali River. His body was not recovered until September 25. Two other persons, Lokesh and Jagannath, are yet to be located.

Advocates Malayil and Chandran had filed the PIL before the Karnataka High Court on July 23, raising concerns that authorities were clearing rubble from the site instead of looking for the missing people. They had approached the High Court after initially raising the matter before the Supreme Court on July 22. It was also alleged that several people from Kerala who had expertise in the matter were being mishandled by the Karnataka Police.

On the date of filing, the High Court had taken note of status reports from the Union of India represented by Deputy Solicitor General Shanthi Bhushan as well as the armed forces. The High Court continued to receive reports in subsequent hearings, while also recording the planned steps to rehabilitate the inhabitants of the disaster area.

The PIL went on to request a writ directing all possible help for the survivors as well as the deployment of the armed forces in the rescue operation.