Wayanad Mudslide Leaves Five Dead, Search Continues For Missing Persons

At least five people were killed and three others remained missing after a massive mudslide struck the Meppadi-Kalladi tunnel construction site in Kerala’s Wayanad district on Tuesday. Rescue teams continued a large-scale search operation through the night, using personnel, heavy machinery and sniffer dogs to locate workers believed to be trapped beneath the debris.

The mudslide occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, where construction work for the Wayanad side of the tunnel road project was underway. Preliminary assessments indicated that continuous heavy rainfall caused large heaps of excavated earth stored at the site to collapse, burying parts of the work area. The region recorded around 226 mm of rainfall in the previous 24 hours, increasing concerns over ground stability.

Seven injured people were admitted to hospitals for treatment, while rescue agencies worked to trace the missing workers. The collapse also damaged nearby structures, sweeping away a church and a house located close to the site. The house was reportedly locked as its occupants had travelled to Mecca for pilgrimage, and no one was present inside the church when the incident occurred.

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Local residents described the sudden collapse of the earth as a terrifying experience. A couple waiting at a nearby bus stop said they saw the mound of mud giving way and immediately ran to safety. The woman suffered bruises on her hands after falling while escaping, but both survived the incident. Several vehicles and a bus used for transporting construction workers were also parked near the area at the time of the mudslide.

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan reviewed the situation with senior officials and said all available agencies had been deployed for rescue and relief efforts. He directed authorities to make every possible effort to find those missing and ensure proper medical care for the injured. Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar and Agriculture Minister T. Siddique were sent to Wayanad to coordinate operations on the ground.

The incident has triggered demands for a detailed investigation into possible safety lapses at the construction site. Union Minister of State for Tourism Suresh Gopi said he had informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation and alleged that earlier directions regarding removal of excavated soil had not been followed. Authorities are also assessing the need to shift families from vulnerable areas to relief camps, with nearly 400 families in surrounding locations being reviewed for possible evacuation. Schools across Wayanad have been declared closed on Wednesday. The tragedy comes shortly before the second anniversary of the 2024 Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides, which claimed more than 200 lives in the district.

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