environment

Kerala Landslide Kills Two, Minister Accuses Railways of Lapses

Published on: 07 Jul 2026, 08:03 AM

A major landslide triggered by heavy rainfall struck Kerala's Wayanad district on Tuesday, killing two people and prompting a large-scale rescue operation. Officials fear several others may still be trapped under debris.

The landslide occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, close to the ongoing Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel road project. Construction workers were present at the time. Six injured people have been admitted to hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.

Rescue operations began immediately, with local residents assisting before official teams arrived. Fire and Rescue Services personnel and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, including 30 NDRF personnel, reached the site. Kerala Revenue Minister AP Anil Kumar confirmed the rescue efforts were underway.

The area recorded 265 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours. Several vehicles used for transporting tunnel project workers were damaged.

Chief Minister VD Satheesan convened an emergency meeting with Agriculture Minister T Siddique. The Chief Minister directed officials to expedite rescue and relief operations and instructed Ministers Anil Kumar and Siddique to travel to the district to oversee efforts.

Minister Siddique alleged that the landslide was "man-made" and the result of negligence, claiming authorities had previously warned Konkan Railways about the risk. He said, "It is not a natural landslide, but a man-made landslide. The District Collector had given in writing to Konkan Railways regarding the chance of a landslide at the site." He drew parallels with the 2024 Mundakkai landslide that killed 298 people. Konkan Railways has not yet responded to the allegations.

Wayanad has a history of deadly landslides, including the 2024 disaster. Notable past incidents include a 1984 debris flow that killed 14 and a 1992 landslide that caused significant damage. The geological vulnerability of the region is well-documented.

Authorities continue search and rescue operations, with efforts focused on locating any remaining trapped individuals. Further updates are awaited.

Source: NDTV

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