Wayanad landslide kills two, injures seven, several missing after tunnel site debris flow
A devastating landslide near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi in Kerala's Wayanad district has claimed two lives, injured seven, and left several others missing, according to state officials. The incident occurred at the construction site of a proposed tunnel road project connecting Wayanad and Malappuram districts.
Fresh Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage from the area shows a massive wave of mud and debris rushing down a hill, sweeping away a fuel tanker and sending workers and bystanders scrambling for safety. The landslide struck suddenly, triggering panic among those present.
Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan confirmed two deaths, stating that rescue operations would conclude once the road is cleared. He added, 'Two deaths are confirmed. After road clearance, rescue work will be completed. We have directed all hospitals in Wayanad for the treatment of the labourers who were from outside Kerala. The primary report suggests there were no local people affected in the incident.'
Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan reported that seven people were injured and another seven remained missing. 'It is an unfortunate incident. Rescue efforts are going on,' he told reporters after reviewing the situation with officials from the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA). He noted that police, fire, and rescue personnel were already deployed, with additional forces being mobilised, including a defence force stationed in Thrissur kept ready for deployment if required.
The Chief Minister highlighted that heavy rainfall had occurred in the area before the landslide but maintained that the disaster was not caused by the absence of a weather alert. Instead, he pointed to an alleged failure to remove accumulated soil and debris from the construction site despite prior instructions from authorities. 'The Disaster Management Authority and the District Collector had already issued an order on June 20 to remove all the soil from the spot. The preliminary information is that the contractor of the tunnel has not obeyed the order issued by the District Collector and the Disaster Management Authority,' Satheesan said.
Fire and Rescue Services personnel, police teams, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have launched a large-scale search operation to locate those still missing. Officials said several vehicles used to transport tunnel workers were damaged in the landslide. Local residents helped rescue some people from the affected area before emergency teams arrived.
According to Kerala's Public Relations Department, rescued individuals have been shifted to Meppadi WIMS Hospital for treatment, while a relief camp has been opened at Chulikka Government LP School for affected residents. Chief Minister Satheesan said the state government was closely monitoring the situation and had directed Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar and Agriculture Minister T. Siddique to reach Wayanad immediately to oversee rescue and relief operations.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Wayanad, where very heavy rainfall has been reported in several areas, adding to the challenges faced by rescue teams.
