Wayanad Tunnel Project Debris: Search for Five Missing Continues Without Breakthrough
The search for five people missing after a debris slip near the entrance to the under-construction Wayanad tunnel road project at Kalladi, near Meppadi, continued for the second day on Wednesday (July 8, 2026), with no breakthrough till late in the evening.
The debris slip on Tuesday (July 7, 2026) claimed three lives and left 10 injured.
Speaking to reporters after a review meeting at Kalpetta, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said the government’s priority was to trace the missing people.
“The search in Zone I and Zone II has been completed, but the missing people could not be located. The search operation has now been extended to Zone III and will continue through the night. It is expected to be completed by Thursday morning. If required, a search will also be carried out in the river on Thursday morning,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that of the 10 injured, three had been admitted to the intensive care unit of a private hospital, with two in a serious condition. Four others remain in hospital wards, while the remaining three have been discharged.
Mr. Satheesan announced an ex gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to the families of those killed in the tragedy. The government will bear the treatment cost of the injured, the Chief Minister said.
He said the police had registered a case in connection with the incident. Stating that the debris slip had affected only a limited area, the Chief Minister said people living in vulnerable locations had been shifted to safer places. More people would be evacuated, if necessary, he added.
The rescue operation, led by a 60-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) with support from the police, Fire and Rescue Services personnel, and volunteers, continued with the aid of heavy earthmoving machinery to clear the massive mound of debris. Cadaver dogs were also deployed to help locate those believed to be trapped beneath the debris. However, heavy rain and inclement weather hampered the rescue efforts, slowing the removal of debris and posing challenges to rescuers.
Mr. Satheesan said the bodies of the three persons who died in the debris slip had been embalmed and would be taken to their native places. Officials said the body of Anmol, a native of Jharkhand, had been handed over and was flown to Ranchi on an IndiGo flight. They said the remaining bodies would also be transported to their respective native places, subject to the availability of flights.
Meanwhile, in view of the India Meteorological Department issuing a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Wayanad, District Collector D.R. Meghashree has declared a holiday for all educational institutions, including anganwadis, religious education classes, tuition centres, special classes, and professional colleges, in the district on Thursday (July 9, 2026). However, the holiday will not apply to residential schools and residential colleges.
