Wayanad Landslide: Five people were killed and seven others injured in a massive landslide in Kerala's Wayanad district on Tuesday. Three people are missing. The accident occurred amid heavy rains at the construction site of the Meppadi-Kalladi Tunnel Road Project in Kalladi when debris accumulated after excavation collapsed due to continuous downpour.
Later, police registered a case and launched an investigation into the landslide at Kalladi in Wayanad The Meppady police registered a case of unnatural death on their own following the incident and initiated an investigation.
According to the FIR, the landslide occurred between 11 am and 11.30 am near Meenakshi Bridge, where work on the road tunnel project was underway. The FIR stated that earth from the upper portion of the tunnel slope collapsed, triggering the landslide.
Officials said the police, in coordination with the district administration and disaster management authorities, would conduct a detailed investigation into the incident.
Three Dead, Several Injured
Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan confirmed that three deaths have been reported in the Wayanad landslide incident. Speaking to news agency ANI, he said rescue operations will continue after clearing the roads. The incident occurred close to the Anakkampoyil- Kalladi-Meppadi twin tunnel road project site, near Mundakkai, where a devastating landslide in 2024 claimed hundreds of lives.
Earlier, speaking to reporters, Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan said, "There are reports of the death of one person. As per preliminary information, seven persons are admitted to the hospital, and seven persons are missing. Police and the Fire Department are conducting a search and rescue operation there. Disaster Management Authority and the District Collector had issued an order on June 20 to remove the soil from the construction site of the tunnel."
Several Injured After Landslide
Initially, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said five people were injured after debris from the Wayanad-Kalladi tunnel construction site slid downhill due to heavy rain. KSDMA said, “Five people are injured after rubble from the Wayanad-Kalladi tunnel construction site slides down due to heavy rains in the area. The injured are admitted to a local hospital. There is no casualty in the incident.”
CM Satheesan Chairs Emergency Meeting
Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan held an emergency meeting with Wayanad Minister T Siddique and directed him to coordinate rescue operations. He also asked Revenue Minister AP Anil Kumar and Agriculture Minister T Siddique to immediately travel to Wayanad to monitor the situation.
In a post on X, CM Satheesan wrote, “In the wake of the landslide near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi in #Wayanad, the government reviewed the situation. An emergency meeting was held with Agriculture Minister T. Siddique, who is from the district. Directions have been issued to coordinate rescue operations without delay.
Minister Calls It 'Man-Made Landslide'
Meanwhile, speaking about the incident, Kerala Minister Siddique said the landslide was caused by lapses at the construction site rather than natural reasons. “It is not a natural landslide, but a man-made landslide. It is a clear case of lapse. Six people are seriously injured, and they are admitted to the hospital. Their condition is stable. We will continue search and rescue at the site in Kalladi. The District Collector had given in writing to Konkan Railways regarding the chance of a landslide at the site,” news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
Videos Revive Memories Of 2024 Disaster
Videos from the site showed powerful streams of water rushing down the hillside, highligting the impact of heavy rain. The incident has also brought back memories of the devastating 2024 Wayanad landslides. On July 30, 2024, multiple landslides struck the villages of Punjirimattom, Mundakkai, Chooralmala and Vellarimala in Meppadi panchayat of Wayanad district. The disaster was one of the deadliest in Kerala's history, claiming 254 lives, injuring 397 people, while 118 others were reported missing.