Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram/Wayanad
Thiruvananthapuram/Wayanad, Jul 7: A major mudslide at the Wayanad end of the Anakkampoyil–Kalladi tunnel road project claimed the life of one construction worker on Tuesday, left seven others injured, and seven more unaccounted for, prompting an intensive rescue operation amid relentless rainfall.
The accident occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, where tunnel construction is underway. According to initial findings, continuous heavy rain caused enormous piles of excavated soil stored at the site to collapse, burying sections of the work area and trapping workers beneath the debris.
The region had witnessed extremely heavy rainfall over the previous 24 hours, with Meppadi recording 226 mm of rain, creating hazardous conditions at the construction site.
The location, which is frequented by tourists, also had several private vehicles and a bus used for transporting workers parked nearby when the mudslide struck. Rescue teams fear additional people may still be trapped under the collapsed earth.
Following an emergency review meeting at the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority headquarters, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan described the incident as a tragic event and confirmed that rescue efforts were continuing despite persistent rain affecting operations.
He said the latest official information indicated that one worker had died, seven had been admitted to hospitals with injuries, and seven others remained missing. Emergency teams are carrying out search operations on a priority basis.
The Chief Minister also revealed that the government had previously instructed the construction company to clear the large quantities of excavated earth accumulated at the project site. A formal directive had been issued on June 20, but the instructions were reportedly not implemented.
Emphasising that infrastructure projects must adhere to mandatory safety standards, Satheesan said the government would closely examine the circumstances that led to the tragedy. He also directed Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar and Agriculture Minister T. Siddique to reach Wayanad and oversee rescue and relief operations.
Before departing for the accident site, Siddique told reporters that preliminary investigations pointed towards the improper dumping of excavated earth during tunnel construction as a major factor behind the disaster.
He said all injured workers were receiving treatment and were reported to be in stable condition. While fire and rescue personnel were already working at the site, two teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were also being deployed to strengthen rescue efforts.
The minister stated that early assessments suggested the excavated soil had been stored without proper scientific planning despite earlier concerns being raised over the practice.
Calling the incident a "man-made disaster," Siddique said the government would investigate whether previous warnings had been ignored and whether negligence in handling excavated material contributed significantly to the collapse.
Although torrential rain appears to have triggered the mudslide, officials are expected to focus their inquiry on possible violations of safety norms and the management of excavated earth at the construction site.
Meanwhile, Wayanad Member of Parliament Priyanka Gandhi spoke with the District Collector to review the situation and monitor the ongoing rescue operations.