Massive landslide hits Kerala’s Wayanad tunnel project site; 1 dead, 7 missing

Mangalore Today News Network

Wayanad, Jul 7, 2026: One person was killed, and seven others were missing after a major landslide struck the Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel project site near Kalladi in Kerala’s Wayanad district on Tuesday.

Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheeshan confirmed that one person has died, seven people have been rescued, while seven others are missing after the landslide in Wayanad.

The massive landslide has left several workers feared trapped under the debris and triggered a large-scale rescue operation.

The landslide occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, where work on the tunnel road project connecting Malappuram and Wayanad districts has been underway since last year. The area is close to Mundakkai, which witnessed a devastating landslide in 2024.

According to Fire and Rescue Services officials, local residents rescued three people from the site before emergency teams arrived. The workers were staying near the tunnel project site. Officials said the area also has a few houses and homestays, raising concerns that more people could be trapped beneath the debris.

Police, Fire and Rescue Services personnel and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed to the site. A statement issued by the district administration said the NDRF unit stationed at Meenangadi had been directed to immediately reach the affected area, while another team from Kozhikode was also rushed to Wayanad to assist in the rescue efforts.

Five People Injured By Debris

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said debris from an excavation at the Kalladi tunnel work site slid down following heavy rainfall, blocking nearby roads.

According to the authority, five people were struck by the debris and admitted to the hospital. It said there were no fatalities in the incident so far.

The KSDMA said the tunnel construction work had been suspended since Monday and that the injured workers were moving around the work site when the debris came crashing down. The authority also said the region recorded 265 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours.

Several vehicles used to transport tunnel project workers were also damaged in the landslide. Residents said heavy earth-moving machinery would be required to clear the debris before a comprehensive search operation could begin.

In the wake of the incident, Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheeshan convened an emergency meeting and directed that rescue and relief operations be coordinated on a war footing.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar and Agriculture Minister T. Siddique have been instructed to immediately proceed to Wayanad to oversee the rescue operations.

‘Man-Made Landslide’

Speaking on the incident, Kerala Minister T. Siddique alleged that the landslide was caused by negligence at the construction site.

“It is not a natural landslide, but a man-made landslide. It is a clear case of lapse. Six people are seriously injured, and they are admitted to the hospital. Their condition is stable. We will continue search and rescue at the site in Kalladi. The District Collector had given in writing to Konkan Railways regarding the chance of a landslide at the site," he said.

“Two teams comprising a total of 60 NDRF personnel from Wayanad and Kozhikode have been directed to the site. The District Collector is present at the site. I, along with State Minister AP Anil Kumar, am going to the site. Konkan Railways was directed to take necessary action about this earlier, but no action was taken by them. Such things cannot be tolerated because two years ago, 298 people lost their lives in a landslide at Mundakkai," Siddique added.

Officials said Minister Siddique and the Wayanad District Collector were coordinating search efforts on the ground and verifying whether more people remained trapped beneath the debris.

The Anakkompoyil-Meppadi twin tunnel project is intended to improve connectivity between the Malappuram and Wayanad districts.