Karnataka ropes in Army as 3 of the victims missing 6 days after Shirur landslide

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who visited the landslide site on Sunday, said the state government would petition the Centre to initiate action against those responsible for the unscientific highway work that he blamed for the accident.

“Whoever is responsible, action will be taken. The National Highway Authority of India constructed the highway. Once the rescue operation is complete, we will look into the matter and seek action against those responsible,” he said.

Forty-four Army personnel joined the rescue operations on Sunday, adding to the personnel of the State Disaster Response Force and the National Disaster Response Force at the landslide site.

Multiple earthmovers have been deployed to clear the debris piled atop the highway stretch—a task that locals expect to take more than three days.

Among the three victims who are still missing, one has been identified as Arjun, a lorry driver from Kerala. Both Arjun and his lorry remain untraced.

Of the seven bodies recovered, the five from the same family ran a restaurant near the highway stretch where the accident took place.

There are also unverified claims of more victims being trapped under the heap of rubble.