3 dead after landslide hits construction site in Wayanad, several feared trapped
A major landslide struck near a tunnel project site in Kerala's Wayanad, with around seven people believed to be trapped. The incident, which occurred near Mundakkai, has revived memories of the 2024 disaster.
Three people died, and eight were injured after a massive landslide struck near a tunnel construction site in Kerala's Wayanad, reviving memories of the 2024 disaster that left over 300 dead. At least seven workers are still missing in the incident, which comes amid incessant rainfall in Wayanad over the past few days.
While two people were initially reported dead, one more body was recovered later, with authorities saying the eventual toll could rise further as there are people who are still trapped under the debris.
The incident occurred near Meenakshi Bridge, where work on the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi twin tunnel project is under way. The project, once completed, will connect Malappuram and Wayanad districts. The area is near Mundakkai, which was the worst hit in the 2024 landslides.
A government official said those feared trapped under the debris were engineers and security staff. "If work was going on there, it would have been a bigger tragedy," she said. The injured have been admitted to Meppadi WIMS Hospital for treatment.
'NOT NATURAL, BUT MAN-MADE LANDSLIDE'
According to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), the area received around 265 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours - the highest rainfall recorded this season. A red alert for heavy rain has been issued for Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.
Videos on social media from the site showed thick slush barrelling down the hillside, uprooting trees on its way. Another video captures dramatic scenes of panic as a huge wave of mud and debris flowed downhill. A large fuel tanker truck can also be seen being swept away by the debris as several people scramble to safety.
Initially, local residents stepped in and pulled people to safety. Later, fire and rescue personnel from nearby Kalpetta were rushed to the spot. Several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were also pressed into rescue operations.
Terming it a "man-made" landslide, Kerala Agriculture Minister T Siddique blamed the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), which has undertaken the project, for the incident.
"This is not a natural landslide. This is a man-made landslide. This occurred due to an unscientific way of accumulating mud there," Siddique said.
He further said that the district collector had written to Konkan Railways regarding the chance of a landslide at the site.
"The Konkan Railway authorities were told to remove this debris. But it was not done," the minister said. "Such things cannot be tolerated because two years ago, 298 people lost their lives in the Mundakkai landslide," Siddique further said.
A report in News Minute said the soil removed for the construction of th tunnel was piled on one side of the site. It was washed downhill by floodwaters, causing the tragedy.
Upon completion, the Anakkampoyil-Meppadi will be the longest road tunnel in Kerala, and the third-longest in India.
In the wake of the landslide, Chief Minister VD Satheesan held an emergency meeting. Siddique and Revenue Minister AP Anil Kumar have been sent to Wayanad to coordinate the rescue operations.
Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said efforts to rescue those trapped were on a war footing.
"At a time like this, we need to ensure that relief and rescue efforts are not hampered, and we ensure all possible help without causing any distractions," Gandhi said.
WHY IS WAYANAD PRONE TO LANDSLIDES?
The hilly terrain of Wayanad is no stranger to such massive landslides. In fact, Wayanad is the most susceptible district to landslides in all of Kerala. It also falls under Zone III for seismic activity.
The scars of the 2024 devastation are still fresh. A series of landslides struck Chooralmala, Mundakkai and Punchirimattom, erasing entire hamlets from Kerala's map. Officially, the government claimed 298 lives were lost. However, locals said the toll was much higher.
Over the decades, Wayanad has been wrecked by multiple such tragedies, such as the Mundakkai landslide in 1984, the Kappikkalam landslide in 1992 (11 deaths) and the Valamthode tragedy in June 2007.
Three people died, and eight were injured after a massive landslide struck near a tunnel construction site in Kerala's Wayanad, reviving memories of the 2024 disaster that left over 300 dead. At least seven workers are still missing in the incident, which comes amid incessant rainfall in Wayanad over the past few days.
While two people were initially reported dead, one more body was recovered later, with authorities saying the eventual toll could rise further as there are people who are still trapped under the debris.
The incident occurred near Meenakshi Bridge, where work on the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi twin tunnel project is under way. The project, once completed, will connect Malappuram and Wayanad districts. The area is near Mundakkai, which was the worst hit in the 2024 landslides.
A government official said those feared trapped under the debris were engineers and security staff. "If work was going on there, it would have been a bigger tragedy," she said. The injured have been admitted to Meppadi WIMS Hospital for treatment.
'NOT NATURAL, BUT MAN-MADE LANDSLIDE'
According to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA), the area received around 265 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours - the highest rainfall recorded this season. A red alert for heavy rain has been issued for Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.
Videos on social media from the site showed thick slush barrelling down the hillside, uprooting trees on its way. Another video captures dramatic scenes of panic as a huge wave of mud and debris flowed downhill. A large fuel tanker truck can also be seen being swept away by the debris as several people scramble to safety.
Initially, local residents stepped in and pulled people to safety. Later, fire and rescue personnel from nearby Kalpetta were rushed to the spot. Several teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were also pressed into rescue operations.
Terming it a "man-made" landslide, Kerala Agriculture Minister T Siddique blamed the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), which has undertaken the project, for the incident.
"This is not a natural landslide. This is a man-made landslide. This occurred due to an unscientific way of accumulating mud there," Siddique said.
He further said that the district collector had written to Konkan Railways regarding the chance of a landslide at the site.
"The Konkan Railway authorities were told to remove this debris. But it was not done," the minister said. "Such things cannot be tolerated because two years ago, 298 people lost their lives in the Mundakkai landslide," Siddique further said.
A report in News Minute said the soil removed for the construction of th tunnel was piled on one side of the site. It was washed downhill by floodwaters, causing the tragedy.
Upon completion, the Anakkampoyil-Meppadi will be the longest road tunnel in Kerala, and the third-longest in India.
In the wake of the landslide, Chief Minister VD Satheesan held an emergency meeting. Siddique and Revenue Minister AP Anil Kumar have been sent to Wayanad to coordinate the rescue operations.
Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said efforts to rescue those trapped were on a war footing.
"At a time like this, we need to ensure that relief and rescue efforts are not hampered, and we ensure all possible help without causing any distractions," Gandhi said.
WHY IS WAYANAD PRONE TO LANDSLIDES?
The hilly terrain of Wayanad is no stranger to such massive landslides. In fact, Wayanad is the most susceptible district to landslides in all of Kerala. It also falls under Zone III for seismic activity.
The scars of the 2024 devastation are still fresh. A series of landslides struck Chooralmala, Mundakkai and Punchirimattom, erasing entire hamlets from Kerala's map. Officially, the government claimed 298 lives were lost. However, locals said the toll was much higher.
Over the decades, Wayanad has been wrecked by multiple such tragedies, such as the Mundakkai landslide in 1984, the Kappikkalam landslide in 1992 (11 deaths) and the Valamthode tragedy in June 2007.
