Wayanad Landslide – Road Access Restored as Search Operation Intensifies
Wayanad Landslide – Road connectivity to the Kalladi landslide site in Wayanad has been fully restored, allowing rescue agencies to move heavy equipment and personnel into the affected area more efficiently. Officials said the reopening of blocked routes is expected to strengthen the ongoing search for five people who are still unaccounted for after the landslide near a tunnel construction site.
Cleared roads improve movement of rescue equipment
Kerala Agriculture Minister T Siddique said the roads obstructed by mud and debris were cleared by around 4 am on Wednesday. With vehicle access now available, excavators, transport vehicles, specialised teams and other essential resources can reach the site without the earlier delays.
The landslide struck near the tunnel construction work area at about 11:15 am on Tuesday. Authorities have confirmed three deaths so far, while search teams continue efforts to trace the remaining missing workers.
Bodies shifted for embalming and transport
The bodies recovered from the site were moved from the local taluk hospital to Government Medical College, Kozhikode, where embalming procedures are underway. Officials said the bodies were expected to be taken by ambulance to Kochi Airport later in the day before being sent to the victims’ native states.
The process of identifying the deceased and informing their families is continuing. Police and district authorities are coordinating with other agencies to complete the required formalities.
Rescue teams divide worksite into four zones
National Disaster Response Force personnel, Rapid Response Force units, Fire and Rescue Services teams, police officers, civil defence workers, volunteers and local residents are taking part in the operation. The search area has been divided into four zones to ensure that the large debris field is examined systematically.
District Police Chief S Deva Manohar said the road towards Chooralmala is now fit for vehicle movement, though large quantities of earth remain piled along both sides. Removing this material is a major part of the work needed to expand the search area.
Two cadaver dogs have been deployed at the site, and officials were expecting additional dogs to join the operation later on Wednesday. Search personnel are focusing on areas where mud and debris have accumulated heavily.
Deep mud and damaged structures complicate search
Officials said the landslide affected an area within roughly 200 metres of the tunnel construction location. Several portions of the worksite are covered by an estimated seven to 10 feet of mud, rocks and construction debris.
A bus used for transporting workers was buried in the slide, but authorities confirmed that it was empty when the incident occurred. A nearby house and a mosque close to Meenakshi Bridge also suffered damage.
During the first day of operations, officials deployed 65 NDRF personnel, 100 police officers, 158 Fire and Rescue Services and Civil Defence members, and 52 workers from the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society. Sniffer dogs and cadaver dogs were also brought in to support the search.
Rain warning adds pressure on emergency response
The India Meteorological Department has issued a yellow alert for Wayanad, warning of heavy rain at isolated locations. Rainfall between 7 cm and 11 cm has been forecast in parts of the district, while thundershowers are expected across Kerala.
The weather department has also warned of surface winds reaching 40 to 50 kmph until July 9. Officials are monitoring conditions closely as fresh rainfall could affect debris removal and rescue work.
Police have registered a case under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Relief camps remain open for displaced residents, while movement restrictions have been imposed around the disaster site to allow rescue teams to work without interruption. Questions over the handling of excavated soil at the construction location are also expected to be examined as part of the wider investigation.