Wayanad tunnel road mudslide toll rises to seven; search continues for last missing person
The landslide struck near Meenakshi Bridge in Kalladi, at a site where construction on the Wayanad stretch of the tunnel road project was underway.
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The death toll in the Wayanad tunnel road landslide climbed to seven on Friday, after rescue teams pulled another body out of the debris. The search is still on for the one person still unaccounted for, with rescuers battling harsh weather and difficult terrain.
As rescue work continues, the disaster has also set off a political row over the project and the events leading up to it. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has announced that an expert team will carry out a thorough investigation into every aspect of the tunnel road project, including whether safety protocols were properly followed and whether any lapses contributed to the collapse.
The tragedy has also drawn judicial attention, with the Kerala High Court calling for a detailed report on the incident. The conclusions of the expert panel, along with the ongoing court proceedings, are expected to be decisive in establishing whether the disaster was a natural calamity or the outcome of human and administrative failure.
The latest body was recovered during an intensive operation involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue Services, police, the Forest Department, and local volunteers. Excavators and other heavy equipment have been deployed to clear the debris, though intermittent rain and loose, unstable soil continue to slow down the effort.
The landslide struck near Meenakshi Bridge in Kalladi, at a site where construction on the Wayanad stretch of the tunnel road project was underway. By Thursday, six bodies had already been recovered, including three pulled out that same day.
As rescue work continues, the disaster has also set off a political row over the project and the events leading up to it. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has announced that an expert team will carry out a thorough investigation into every aspect of the tunnel road project, including whether safety protocols were properly followed and whether any lapses contributed to the collapse.
#WATCH | Keralam: Visuals this morning from the site in Wayanad where a landslide occurred on 7th July. Six bodies have been recovered so far.
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2026
Search and rescue operation will resume shortly. pic.twitter.com/mHXqtudzk8
Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, who, as Chief Minister, had cleared the project earlier this year, defended the approval process on Thursday, insisting that all required procedures and statutory protocols had been followed before it was sanctioned. His comments drew a sharp rebuke from Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar, who has been stationed at the accident site since the tragedy struck. Anil Kumar questioned why Vijayan was so quick to rule out any lapses before an inquiry had even begun, saying the expert committee's report should come first, with action to follow based on its findings.
The tragedy has also drawn judicial attention, with the Kerala High Court calling for a detailed report on the incident. The conclusions of the expert panel, along with the ongoing court proceedings, are expected to be decisive in establishing whether the disaster was a natural calamity or the outcome of human and administrative failure.