Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the tragic incident was discussed at length during the Cabinet meeting, and the reports submitted by the concerned officials were examined
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government on Wednesday ordered a detailed probe into the cause of the landslip at the twin tunnel project site in Kalladi, Wayanad, which claimed the lives of three workers.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the tragic incident was discussed at length during the Cabinet meeting, and the reports submitted by the concerned officials were examined. Following this, the Cabinet decided to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the matter.
Satheesan also stated that it will be checked whether the project authorities violated any environmental regulations or failed to comply with the guidelines issued by the Central Government during the construction period. “We will examine whether those involved in implementing the project followed the central government’s guidelines and complied with the required instructions,” he said.
The construction activities, which were halted on Tuesday after the mishap, will resume only after assessing the possibility of another landslip and the fragility of the site. Satheesan said the government has decided to conduct two separate investigations: one into the cause of the landslip and another to check if the company violated environmental guidelines during construction. The tragic incident at Kalladi claimed the lives of three workers, while nine people trapped in the debris were rescued by the rescue teams. Search and rescue operations are still ongoing in the area, as five people reportedly remain missing.
Meanwhile, one of the contractors involved in the execution of the Kozhikode-Wayanad twin tunnel project claimed that the company had followed all safety measures at the project site. Company representatives told reporters in Kalladi that the excavated soil from tunnel drilling had been stored after complying with all safety guidelines. The dumped soil was properly covered, secured with protective nailing, and steps were taken to prevent water seepage. They also stated that the landslide occurred 12 meters uphill and not at the company’s work site.
The company said the immediate priority was to support the ongoing search and rescue operations at the site. It added that the company will cooperate with any investigation into the disaster. The exact cause of the landslip could be determined only after a comprehensive scientific and technical probe, he said.
