Karnataka landslide: Missing lorry driver's family claims delay in rescue operation
Kozhikode(Kerala) (PTI): The family of the Malayalee lorry driver Arjun, who has been missing since July 16 after his truck was caught in a massive landslide in a village in Karnataka, on Saturday claimed there was a delay in the rescue operation being carried out there.
His sister told media that the Karnataka police were informed on July 16 itself that he was missing and later further details, including his truck's GPS location, were communicated to them, but till date there is no information available about his whereabouts.
"If there is so much delay, what hope should we hold on to? If they did not have the requisite facilities there, they should have brought it from where the same is available," she said.
Kerala Forest Minister A K Saseendran, who visited the family in the morning, told reporters that the rescue operations were expedited following effective intervention from the Kerala government and prominent political parties in the state.
"Hope it will be fruitful," he said.
He further said that besides a team of Motor Vehicle Department officials from Kerala, a police team from the state was also present at the site where the landslide occurred and they were providing regular reports about the status of the rescue efforts.
The minister also said that equipment like ground penetrating radar and metal detectors have reached the site to help with the rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, an MVD officer present at the landslide site told reporters that the Karnataka officials were hopeful of finding the truck by afternoon.
Arjun's family is hopeful he will be rescued and returned to them as his mobile phone was ringing even on Friday morning and the GPS tracker on his truck was emitting a signal, placing the vehicle somewhere underneath the massive mound of mud and rock debris.
On Friday, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan got in touch with Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah over the issue.
According to the family, they last spoke to Arjun on Monday after which there has been no contact from him.
Six bodies have been recovered after the landslide incident on July 16.
Vehicular traffic has been temporarily suspended on National Highway 66 following the landslide.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
