Daijiworld Media Network - Madikeri (SP)

Madikeri, Aug 10: Tala Kaveri has been experiencing incessant rainfall and fog has been blocking the visibility there. The area is full of slush that is enough to bury people of average height till their waists. Rescue teams have been working overtime to find out the fate of the family which went missing after the landslide at Tala Kaveri five days ago.

Out of the five members of chief priest of Tala Kaveri, Narayan Achar, who went missing, only one body has been found so far. Search operation for others is on. As chief minister B S Yediyurappa, has been following up progress in the operation, Kodagu district in-charge minister V Somanna, and revenue minister R Ashok, have taken personal interest in ensuring that the rescue work progresses irrespective of challenging conditions.

Personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force, police, fire brigade and home guards staff have been doing their best and engaged in operations. Landslide had happened for a width of about 500 metres seven km deep. The remains of the house have also been washed away along with the mud. It is not clear where the bodies could have been buried. A few pieces of clothes were so far found, possibly of a sari. The slush is stuffed in a spot where even backhoes cannot operate. The officials have now summoned Hitachi machine for the operation, and some progress might be achieved from Monday onwards, it is hoped.

NDRF chief, R K Upadhyaya, says that rain has been blocking their efforts but there is no let-up in the rescue mission. Minister Ashok, said that if found necessary, army's help would be sought.