Shirur (Karnataka): Wednesday marks one year since the catastrophic landslide at Shirur in Karnataka's Uttara Kannada district -- a tragedy that claimed nine lives and continues to haunt families across three states. Among those killed was 32-year-old Arjun, a truck driver from Kozhikode, whose long absence and eventual recovery after 72 days turned him into a symbol of the disaster for many in Kerala. Two victims remain untraced. 

On the night of July 15, 2024, a stretch of the national highway skirting the Gangavali River gave way after days of relentless rain. The highway, which passes through a precarious corridor with the Western Ghats on one side and the river on the other, collapsed, sending several vehicles -- including trucks and private cars -- plunging into the swollen river. 

Early news reports in Kerala were sketchy: 'Landslide reported, some feared trapped' was all that appeared in headlines. The tragedy was brought home when two days later, Arjun’s family filed a missing person report in Kozhikode. Using his mobile phone’s last signal location, authorities identified the landslide site as his likely whereabouts. The scale of the disaster slowly unfolded in Kerala's living rooms as Malayalam channels started reporting on the landslide. Those missing included drivers and workers from Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Initial search efforts focused on locating a submerged truck suspected to be trapped in the riverbed. But rescue teams faced severe challenges: unrelenting rain, muddy currents, and rising water levels that restricted visibility and made heavy-lifting operations treacherous. 

The rescue operation, led by Karnataka’s disaster response forces with assistance from the Navy, NDRF, and other central agencies, used a combination of underwater scanners, drones, earthmovers, divers, and cranes. The effort had to be paused and resumed in phases due to adverse conditions. The third and final phase resumed after the intervention of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. 

On the 72nd day, Arjun's truck was recovered from the mouth of the Gangavali River using a crane. His body was found inside. DNA testing confirmed his identity, ending the long wait for his family.

A flawed road, a fatal slope
A preliminary investigation by the Geological Survey of India found that the National Highway Authority of India’s (NHAI) "unscientific" vertical cutting of the hillside -- without a protective slope or toe support (the buffer between the base of the hill and the highway) -- destabilised the terrain. This disruption of natural drainage, compounded by intense monsoon rains, triggered the massive landslide that tore open the highway. With the Western Ghats on one side and the Gangavali River on the other, the lack of structural foresight left no margin for error.

The incident has reignited debate over flawed construction practices and inadequate safety audits on national highways, especially in ecologically fragile zones. Kasaragod also experiences similar landslides along the same national highway due to the same flaws in cutting the hillside.

Final journey
Arjun’s remains were first brought to a temporary camp in Shirur and then taken to his hometown in Kozhikode. Thousands lined the route to pay their respects. His final journey, marked by silence and steady rain, became a moment of shared mourning across Kerala.

The official death toll remains at nine, but two victims are still missing. The Karnataka government has since called off the search, leaving families without closure.

Several individuals played key roles in the extended search. Karwar MLA Satish Sail and Manjeshwar MLA A K M Ashraf visited the site repeatedly. Veteran diver Ishwar Malpe worked on the ground with rescue teams. News channels that covered the operation daily kept public attention on the tragedy and put pressure on authorities to continue the search mission.

As part of the Kerala government’s effort to support Arjun's family, his wife K Krishna Priya was appointed as a junior clerk at Vengeri Service Cooperative Bank. The Department of Cooperation issued the appointment order on August 29, nearly a month before Arjun's body was recovered from the Gangavali riverbed on September 25, 2024. Minister V N Vasavan said the government waived standard rules to extend the cooperative sector’s commitment to social responsibility.

One year later, the site of the landslide remains unchanged -- a scar etched into the hillside and memory.