Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan announced on Friday that urgent efforts are underway to make the Thamarassery Pass, a critical link between Wayanad and Kozhikode districts, fully motorable following multiple landslides triggered by heavy rainfall. The pass, part of National Highway 766, was closed after a fresh mudslide on August 27 near the 9th curve at Lakkidi, with a crack 80 feet above the road raising safety concerns.

Rajan, addressing the media after a high-level meeting with Kozhikode and Wayanad District Collectors, emphasized the need for a dry spell to inspect the crack’s extent using specialized equipment. “We’ve identified a significant crack with water streaming down, making the area unstable. Until geologists confirm safety, heavy vehicles are banned,” he said. Single-lane traffic for light vehicles resumed on Friday morning after debris clearance, but buses and trucks remain barred pending expert evaluation scheduled for later today.

The Kuttiyadi ghat road, an alternative route, was declared motorable on Friday after clearing landslide debris, though the Public Works Department is tasked with reinforcing it to handle increased traffic. Rajan noted that continuous rain, linked to a Bay of Bengal low-pressure system, has complicated operations, with the IMD issuing an orange alert for Wayanad, Kozhikode, and four other districts, forecasting 11-20 cm of rain. Soil conservation expert Dr. PU Das clarified that the incident was land subsidence due to prolonged rainfall, not a typical landslide, as daily rainfall stayed below 250 mm.

Also Read: Man Severely Injured After Jumping in Front of Train in Kozhikode

The Thamarassery Pass, known for its nine hairpin bends, is Wayanad’s lifeline, handling 12,638 vehicles daily, a number projected to reach 61,000 by 2048. Repeated landslides, including a deadly July 2024 incident killing 250, have heightened calls for alternatives like the ₹2,134-crore Kozhikode-Wayanad tunnel project, set for completion by 2028. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to deploy an expert committee to study preventive measures, emphasizing the pass’s critical role. Environmentalists, however, warn that the tunnel could destabilize Wayanad’s fragile ecosystem, citing past landslides in nearby Mundakkai.

With Onam celebrations approaching, Rajan prioritized traveler safety, stating, “We cannot risk lives for temporary relief.” Fire and Rescue teams, alongside police and volunteers, continue debris clearance under challenging conditions, with hopes of restoring full traffic by Friday afternoon if inspections clear the pass.

Also Read: Teen Driver Drags Man to Death in Delhi