Vikram Rana, a 35-year-old engineer from Sarela village in Fatehpur sub-division, Himachal Pradesh, remains missing five days after a massive landslide struck a tunnel construction site in Kerala’s Wayanad district on July 7. His brothers, Promod Rana and Kulwant Rana, reached the site on Wednesday and have been anxiously waiting for news.
Rescue operations recover three bodies
As of Saturday, rescue teams have recovered three bodies from the debris. The first victim identified was site engineer Rahul Sharma from Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh. On Friday morning, another body was found in a flooded nullah adjacent to the landslide site; the deceased was an employee of the construction company from West Bengal. Earlier, a third body had also been recovered.
Promod Rana, speaking by phone, confirmed that four teams – the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue Services, Kerala Police, and volunteers from NGO Jeevan Rakshak – are continuing search operations despite adverse weather. Extensive searches in the nullah near the site have yielded no trace of Vikram.
Heavy machinery deployed to clear debris
After the unsuccessful nullah search, teams began clearing landslide debris on Friday evening using heavy machinery including excavators, JCBs, and bulldozers. The operation is being closely monitored by Kerala Agriculture Minister T Siddique, who has been stationed at the site for the past five days to supervise efforts.
Promod expressed gratitude to the local administration and the Kerala government for their relentless support. “The minister’s presence has been reassuring. We are hopeful that Vikram will be found soon,” he said.
Background of the incident
The landslide occurred on July 7 at a tunnel construction site in Wayanad, a district known for its hilly terrain and frequent landslides during monsoon. Vikram Rana, a resident of Sarela village under Takoli-Ghirthan panchayat, had been working at the site as an engineer. His family has been in constant contact with authorities.
Rescue efforts are being coordinated with the NDRF, which has deployed specialized teams equipped with search cameras and sniffer dogs. The Fire and Rescue Services are using cutting tools to access trapped areas, while Kerala Police are maintaining security and logistics.
