Wayanad Landslide at Tunnel Project Site Kills Two, Rescue Efforts Continue Amid Red Alert
At least two people have died, seven were injured and seven others remain missing after a massive landslide struck the Kalladi tunnel project site in Kerala's Wayanad district on Tuesday, triggering an extensive rescue operation as heavy rainfall continued across the region.
A video that surfaced after the incident captures the moment a section of the hillside gave way near the Meenakshi Bridge area. Within seconds, a large volume of mud and debris rushed downhill, overwhelming parts of the project site and highlighting the sudden nature of the disaster.
The landslide occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, where work related to a tunnel road project connecting the Malappuram and Wayanad districts was in progress. Authorities said rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue Services, police, Forest Department and local volunteers were deployed to search for those feared trapped beneath the debris.
Kerala Health Minister K. Muraleedharan confirmed that two people had died in the incident. He said hospitals across Wayanad had been instructed to provide treatment to the injured workers, many of whom were from outside Kerala.
"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," Muraleedharan said.
Officials stated that rescue operations were being carried out in challenging conditions as access to the affected area remained obstructed by debris. Authorities indicated that the operation would continue after the road leading to the site was cleared.
An engineer associated with the tunnel project said the collapse happened with little warning. According to the engineer, the failure occurred on a slope situated outside the designated construction boundary on the extreme left side of the project area.
"The collapse occurred within a fraction of a second on a slope located at the extreme left edge, outside the designated construction boundary. Within three to four seconds, the debris rushed towards the Meenakshi Bridge area," the engineer told the media.
The engineer said members of the technical team stationed on the opposite side of Meenakshi Bridge managed to escape safely, while several others were caught in the sudden flow of mud. An office was also functioning at the location where the landslide occurred.
According to the project team, seven to eight workers were engaged in slope protection work or passing through the area when the landslide struck. Four to five security personnel were monitoring the hillside, while two to three engineers from DBL were positioned outside the main construction zone.
The project team further stated that tunnelling work had remained suspended since June 12. At the time of the incident, only reinforcement and safety-related activities were being carried out. Around 15 personnel had reportedly been working at the designated mud disposal area to build a gabion wall and strengthen the slope.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said the disaster was not the result of inadequate weather warnings. Instead, he alleged that the contractor had failed to remove accumulated mud despite repeated instructions from authorities.
The Chief Minister said one person had died, seven had been injured and seven others remained missing, while confirming that police, fire and rescue personnel had already reached the site. He added that additional rescue teams were on their way and that a defence force stationed in Thrissur had been kept on standby if further assistance became necessary.
As heavy rain persisted, the district administration began evacuating families living near the landslide site as a precaution. Officials also confirmed that the Kalladi-Meppady road had been blocked following the incident, with displaced residents being shifted to temporary accommodation in Meppady.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Wayanad at 12:30 pm on Tuesday, shortly after the landslide, which occurred at around 11 am. A red alert was also issued for neighbouring Kozhikode district, while orange alerts remained in force for Malappuram, Kannur and Kasaragod as heavy rainfall continued across parts of northern Kerala.
The rescue operation remained underway as authorities continued efforts to locate the missing and assess the impact of the landslide.