Three people were killed and seven others are missing after a major landslide struck a tunnel road project site in Kerala's Wayanad district on Tuesday, triggered by continuous heavy rainfall. Nine others were injured in the incident, which occurred at Kalladi near Meppady, close to the site of the devastating 2024 Wayanad landslides.
CM confirms casualties and ongoing rescue
Chief Minister VD Satheesan confirmed that the landslide hit an ongoing tunnel project near Meppady, trapping several workers. "It is an unfortunate incident. Rescue efforts are going on," he said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the district, warning of extremely heavy rainfall.
According to officials, the incident took place near Meenakshi Bridge, where work on the Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel project connecting Malappuram and Wayanad districts is underway. The affected area includes workers' accommodation as well as a few nearby houses and home-stays. Continuous rainfall and unstable terrain have complicated rescue operations, with authorities using heavy machinery to clear debris while ensuring the safety of rescue personnel.
Health Minister confirms fatalities
Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan confirmed the three deaths, stating that the fatalities occurred due to the force of the debris. He assured that all hospitals in Wayanad have been instructed to provide treatment to the injured. The incident site is close to Chooralmala, one of the worst-affected areas in the 2024 Wayanad landslides, once again highlighting the vulnerability of the hilly region during the monsoon.
Agriculture Minister calls disaster 'man-made'
Agriculture Minister T Siddique described the disaster as "man-made," attributing it to "unscientific dumping" linked to the ongoing tunnel project. "It is a disaster perpetuated by unscientific dumping of soil and mud as part of the tunnel project. There were indications of such actions and they were raised at meetings of the Konkan officials. But it seems no corrective steps were taken," he said.
Political leaders express condolences
Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi expressed deep condolences and assured full support to affected families. "My deepest condolences to those who have lost precious family members, we will be by your side through this terrible time and give you every support possible. I appeal to the UDF workers, functionaries and members of the public to provide all possible support while strictly following the administration's guidelines," she said.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, noted that Wayanad had shown remarkable resilience in the face of adversity before, and together, "we will stand by every affected family through this tragedy."
