Wayanad Landslide – Search Teams Recover Two More Bodies Near Tunnel Site
Wayanad Landslide – Search personnel recovered two additional bodies on Thursday from the landslide site in Wayanad, taking the confirmed death toll from the July 7 incident to five. Operations continued in selected areas near the tunnel construction site as teams worked through debris left by the landslide.
Search Focuses on High-Priority Areas
Officials said the weather improved on Thursday, allowing rescue teams to intensify their work. Search efforts are now concentrated in locations considered most likely to contain further evidence or victims.
Five people were initially reported missing after the landslide. With the recovery of two bodies during Thursday’s operation, authorities said two of those missing persons had been traced. The identities of the recovered bodies were being established through official procedures.
A Kerala minister supervising the response said teams were examining Zone 1 and Zone 2, where earlier recoveries had also been made. According to the minister, both locations remain central to the search because of the scale of debris and the likelihood that more victims may be found there.
Rescue workers are using available equipment and manual searches to clear the affected stretch. The operation is being coordinated by local authorities and emergency personnel deployed at the site.
Second Body Found in Another Search Zone
Kerala Minister T Siddique said a second body was also recovered from Zone 3 during the day. The remains were sent to a hospital for post-mortem examination before being moved to Kozhikode for embalming, after which they will be handed over to the family.
He said the rescue operation was continuing at full pace, with teams checking separate zones simultaneously. Officials have not indicated when the search may conclude, as work depends on safety conditions and the extent of the debris.
The landslide occurred near Kalladi in the Meppadi Grama Panchayat area of Wayanad. It struck within roughly 200 metres of a tunnel construction project, covering parts of the worksite under an estimated seven to 10 feet of mud, rocks and other debris.
Jharkhand Worker’s Remains Reach Ranchi
Earlier, the remains of Anmol Dodrai, a worker from Khunti district in Jharkhand who died in the landslide, arrived at Ranchi airport. Family members received the remains before they were taken to his native village in the Torpa block.
Dodrai had travelled to Kerala about five months ago to find work and help support his family. His elder sister, Premlata Dodrai, said the family had not immediately understood the scale of the disaster when news of the incident first emerged.
The tragedy has drawn attention to the risks faced by workers at construction sites in hilly regions during periods of unstable weather and ground movement. Authorities have not released further details on the circumstances leading to the landslide.
Authorities Continue Recovery Efforts
The incident took place at about 11:15 am on Tuesday. Emergency teams have since remained at the site, working to locate those still unaccounted for and clear the affected area safely.
Officials said the recovery operation will continue in the identified zones as long as conditions permit. Families of those missing are being kept informed as identification and post-mortem procedures progress.