Death Toll in Wayanad Landslide Mishap Rises To 7
The tragic incident occurred at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday near the site of the twin tunnel project at Meenakshi Bridge. A large chunk of earth came down like an avalanche, burying workers and machinery under the debris
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The death toll from the landslide at the Kozhikode-Wayanad twin tunnel project in Kalladi, near Meppadi town in Wayanad district, Kerala, has risen to seven after four more bodies were found during Thursday’s search operations.
Three bodies had been recovered on the day of the incident, Tuesday. Nine people were injured in the disaster, including two with serious injuries. One person remains missing, and intensive search efforts are underway to locate him.
The tragic incident occurred at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday near the site of the twin tunnel project at Meenakshi Bridge. A large chunk of earth came down like an avalanche, burying workers and machinery under the debris.
The bodies recovered from the debris on Thursday were beyond recognition and were later taken to the Taluk Hospital in Vythiri. The victims have not yet been identified.
Heavy rainfall in the area severely hampered rescue and search operations over the last two days.
The ₹2,134 crore twin tunnel project is being implemented by Konkan Railway Corporation, with Dilip Buildcon and Kolkata-based Royal Infrastructure awarded the work.
Construction on the tunnels was inaugurated last year by the then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The 8.1 km tunnel road project between Wayanad and Kozhikode had sparked concerns among environmentalists, especially since the project area lies in an ecologically sensitive zone. The Meppadi region, where construction began, has seen multiple landslides in recent years. A tragic landslide in Chooralmala-Mundakkai in 2024 claimed over 250 lives.
Chief Minister V D Satheeshan, who ordered a detailed probe into the disaster, visited the twin tunnel site on Wednesday. He met with the injured in hospitals and reviewed relief and rescue operations in a meeting with officials.
Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan, visited the site on Thursday. He criticized the state government’s response to the landslide, alleging a lack of coordination among ministers. After visiting the site, he met the injured in hospitals and also stopped by the relief camps.