Major Landslide Hits Kerala's Wayanad Tunnel Project Site, 1 Dead; 7 Missing

New Delhi: A major landslide in Kerala's Wayanad Kalladi area on Tuesday has claimed at least one life, leaving seven people injured and seven more missing as rescue operations continue at the site.

Officials involved in the mission reported that the landslide struck near the Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, the site of an ongoing tunnel road project intended to connect the Malappuram and Wayanad districts.

Authorities noted that local residents successfully rescued at least three individuals from the area where tunnel project workers were stationed. 

Emergency teams on standby

The landslide also damaged several vehicles used to transport tunnel project staff. In response, police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to the site to conduct rescue operations.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said debris accumulated during excavation for the Wayanad-Kalladi tunnel construction site slid down following heavy rainfall, blocking roads. 

Minister T. Siddique and the District Collector are currently overseeing search efforts and working to determine if additional individuals remain trapped at the location. 

Notably, construction on the Anakkompoyil-Meppadi project, which aims to link the Malappuram and Wayanad districts, began last year.

CM holds emergency meeting

In the wake of the Wayanad landslide, the Chief Minister of Kerala VD Satheesan convened an emergency meeting, ordering the effective coordination of all rescue efforts. Furthermore, Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar and Agriculture Minister T. Siddique have been directed to travel to Wayanad immediately.

Satheesan said the collapse at the Wayanad tunnel construction site was an "unfortunate disaster" and alleged that contractors had failed to comply with repeated directions from the authorities to remove excavated soil, even after warnings from the District Disaster Management Authority.

Addressing reporters, Satheesan said one person had died, seven were undergoing treatment in hospital, and seven others were reported missing following the incident. 

"There is an unfortunate disaster that happened during the construction of the tunnel in Wayanad district. There was an accident. Now, seven people are in the hospital. One person is reported dead, and seven persons are missing," he said.

Meanwhile, Suresh Babu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of Kalloor Grama Panchayat, said six injured workers had been shifted to WIMS Hospital, while one body had been recovered from the site.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Wayanad and Kozhikode, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall, while rescue efforts continue amid challenging weather conditions.