WAYANAD, JULY 7 : The death toll in the landslide at the Kalladi-Anakkampoyil tunnel road construction site in Wayanad has risen to five after rescuers recovered another body trapped beneath collapsed cables and debris.
Search operations are continuing on a large scale, with five to seven workers still feared trapped under massive piles of mud and rubble. Rescue teams from multiple agencies, along with local volunteers, are working to locate those missing.
Officials said 18 people were caught in the landslide, of whom nine injured workers were rescued and admitted to Meppadi WIMS Hospital. A police officer who sustained injuries during the rescue operation is also undergoing treatment.
Kerala Police sniffer dogs have been deployed to assist teams in locating people trapped beneath the debris.
The landslide occurred after a hill above the Kalladi Meenakshi Bridge collapsed following extremely heavy rainfall, triggering a massive flow of mud and debris onto the road and into the river. The area received around 265 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, which is believed to have contributed to the disaster.
Authorities had earlier suspended construction activities due to heavy rains, but security personnel, supervisors and workers present at the site were caught in the collapse.
The landslide blocked the Meppadi-Chooralmala Road and damaged a bus stop and nearby houses. The Public Works Department has been asked to clear the debris and conduct a safety assessment of the bridge before reopening traffic.
Several families from vulnerable areas, including Thanjirode, Eratta Kundu, Attamala, Mammikkunnu and Ambedkar Unnathi Colony, have been shifted to safer locations. Temporary shelters have also been arranged for people stranded on both sides of the damaged bridge.
With a Red Alert continuing in Wayanad, the district administration has declared a holiday for all educational institutions on Wednesday due to heavy rainfall and ongoing rescue efforts.
A team of ministers and senior officials visited the site to review relief operations. Authorities said rescue work will continue through the night as efforts remain focused on finding the missing workers.
Officials also stated that preliminary findings pointed towards improper dumping of excavated soil at the construction site as a possible factor behind the landslide. Demands have been raised for a detailed investigation into alleged safety lapses and fixing responsibility for the tragedy.
