Heavy rains triggered a major landslide in Kerala's Wayanad district on Tuesday, with several people feared trapped under the debris. At least six people were injured in the incident and have been admitted to a nearby hospital.
The landslide occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, where work was underway on a tunnel road project connecting the districts of Malappuram and Wayanad.
Teams from the Fire and Rescue Department reached the site soon after the incident and launched search and rescue operations. Personnel from the police and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have also been deployed to assist in the ongoing rescue efforts.
According to preliminary information, the landslide struck an area where workers associated with the tunnel project were staying. Several houses and homestays are also located nearby, raising concerns that more people may be trapped.
The injured have been identified as Kiran Kumar, Dileep, Suraj Yadav, Sanjay Thapoor, Rajneesh and Tanmay Ghosh. All six are in stable condition and responding well to treatment, according to hospital sources.
Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan spoke to the Wayanad district collector over the phone to review the situation. He also directed Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar and Agriculture Minister T. Siddique to proceed to Wayanad immediately to assess the situation and oversee the rescue operations.
In a statement, Siddique said the disaster was caused by the unscientific dumping of excavated earth during the construction of the tunnel.
"Wayanad had already received heavy rainfall earlier, and even during the subsequent light rainfall, there were clear indications that such an accident could occur. These concerns had been raised explicitly during meetings, including meetings with the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), the agency executing the project, as well as on other occasions," he said.
The minister said the government viewed the lapses seriously and would conduct a detailed inquiry.
"It is a matter of serious concern why this happened and why the directions that had been issued were not implemented. The government will examine these issues thoroughly," he said.
