Wayanad, July 7: A major landslide struck a tunnel road project site near Kalladi in Kerala’s Wayanad district on Tuesday, raising fears that several people may be trapped beneath the debris, officials from the Fire and Rescue Services said.
The incident was reported in the Kalladi area near Meppady, close to Meenakshi Bridge, where construction work was in progress on a tunnel road project designed to improve connectivity between Wayanad and Malappuram districts. According to officials, the landslide occurred suddenly in the vicinity of the work zone, prompting immediate concern over the safety of labourers and other personnel present at the site.
Rescue teams from the Fire and Rescue Services in Kalpetta were rushed to the location soon after information about the landslide was received. Authorities said preparations were underway to launch search operations to determine whether any workers or bystanders had been trapped under the collapsed earth and rubble.
Officials have not yet confirmed the number of people who may be affected, but apprehensions remain that some individuals could be buried under the debris. The scale of the landslide and the exact circumstances leading to the collapse were still being assessed at the time of reporting.
The tunnel road project, which is being developed to strengthen transport links between Wayanad and neighbouring Malappuram district, has been seen as an important infrastructure initiative in the hilly region. Tuesday’s landslide, however, has brought work at the site under sudden scrutiny as emergency responders focus on search and rescue efforts.
Local authorities are expected to review safety conditions in and around the construction area as rescue operations progress. Further details on casualties, injuries or the number of people feared trapped are awaited.