Wayanad Landslide: Kerala Awaits Scientific Probe Amid Contractor's Denial

The Kerala government has adopted a more cautious position on the deadly Wayanad tunnel landslide, saying a scientific investigation will determine whether the disaster was caused by natural factors or human activity. The shift comes a day after senior ministers and elected representatives described the incident as a “man-made disaster”, while a note submitted by the project contractor has rejected responsibility for the collapse.

The official note submitted by Dilip Buildcon to the Kerala government attributed the landslide to exceptionally heavy rainfall and the terrain rather than construction activity. The company said the weather department had issued a Red Alert and that Wayanad received around 240 mm of rain within 24 hours. It claimed the landslide originated about 240 metres away from the excavated section of the tunnel and above the tunnel crown.

According to the contractor, debris moved downhill because of the natural difference in elevation and was not triggered by tunnelling activity. The company also said that all construction, drainage and slope protection measures had been carried out according to approved engineering designs. It added that tunnelling work had already been suspended since mid-June because of the monsoon season.

Also Read: Kerala Places Wayanad On Red Alert Following Fatal Landslide During Heavy Rains

The contractor’s explanation differs from assessments by government experts, who have reportedly pointed to possible violations in the disposal of excavated material. Experts have raised concerns over the accumulation of muck and alleged failure to comply with repeated directions to remove it. Five people were killed in the landslide and its aftermath, intensifying scrutiny of construction and safety practices at the project site.

Speaking at the Wayanad Collectorate, Chief Minister VD Satheeshan said a detailed investigation had been ordered and that an expert team would determine the exact cause and nature of the disaster. He said the government would officially classify the incident as natural or man-made only after receiving the scientific report. The government also clarified that earlier statements by elected representatives reflected accounts they had heard at the site rather than a final technical conclusion.

Satheeshan said a police case would be registered if the investigation established wrongdoing. He added that legal action would be taken if the contractor was found to have ignored government directions, including instructions to remove accumulated muck. The scientific probe is now expected to examine rainfall, terrain, construction activity, drainage systems and waste disposal practices before determining responsibility for the deadly landslide.

Also Read: Kerala’s Wayanad Tunnel Site Suffers Landslide, Rescue Teams Search For Trapped Workers