Underwater expert Eshwar Malpe opts out of Shirur rescue ops, cites ‘lack of support’ from Karnataka govt

Arjun and two others disappeared in the massive landslide that struck Shirur on July 16.

The rift between Eshwar and the district administration has been cropping up since the start of the operations. Eshwar, while expressing displeasure, stated that the differences emerged between him and the state government over the rescue operations, following which he decided to opt out of the operations.

Eshwar is a self-taught underwater search and recovery expert. He has dedicated over 20 years to rescuing people from drowning and retrieving around 1,000 bodies from water bodies across Karnataka.

“I express my heartfelt apologies to the family members of Arjun, Jaganath and Lokesh for not being able to continue in the rescue operations any more. We are not getting appropriate assistance and permission from the state government to undertake the rescue operations smoothly. I was neither called for any meetings by the district administration over the rescue operations. It will not be right on my part to force myself into the meetings. Hence I am going home..,” Eshwar told the media.

He also added, “Let the government give it to me in writing allowing me to conduct the rescue operations. Only then will I come back.”

Meanwhile, the district administration officials have deployed a floating craft dredger to remove the silt and other debris beneath the Gangavali river. “We cannot allow any divers to dive into the river when the dredger is in action. It would be way too risky. So far, we have recovered a two-wheeler which is believed to belong to Lokesh,” said a government official.