Two people died and eight others were injured when a large landslide hit near a tunnel construction site in Kerala’s Wayanad district, recalling the deadly 2024 event that claimed more than 300 lives. At least seven workers remain unaccounted for following the incident, which took place during days of continuous heavy rain in the region.
The landslide occurred close to Meenakshi Bridge, where work continues on the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi twin tunnel project intended to link Malappuram and Wayanad districts. The location is near Mundakkai, the area most severely affected in the previous landslides.
Officials noted that those feared trapped under debris included engineers and security personnel. One official remarked that if construction had been active at the time, the outcome would have been far worse. The injured were taken to Meppadi WIMS Hospital for care.
The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority reported approximately 265 mm of rainfall in the preceding 24 hours, the highest total recorded this season. A red alert for intense rain had been issued for Wayanad earlier in the week.
Footage shared online depicted thick mud flowing rapidly down slopes and dislodging trees. Additional clips showed individuals fleeing the advancing debris. The site includes several homes and lodgings, prompting fears that more people might be trapped. Local residents initially helped pull survivors to safety before fire and rescue teams from Kalpetta and National Disaster Response Force units arrived to assist.
Kerala Agriculture Minister T Siddique described the event as man-made, attributing it to improper accumulation of excavated soil by the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited, the project contractor. He stated that the district collector had previously warned the company about landslide risks and urged removal of the debris, but no action was taken. Siddique noted that such negligence could not be accepted given the 2024 losses in Mundakkai.
Reports indicated that soil from tunnel excavation had been piled at the site and was carried downhill by floodwaters. Once finished, the Anakkampoyil-Meppadi tunnel will be the longest road tunnel in Kerala and the third longest in India.
Chief Minister VD Satheesan convened an emergency meeting, and ministers including Siddique and Revenue Minister AP Anil Kumar were dispatched to Wayanad to oversee rescue operations.
Wayanad’s hilly landscape has long been vulnerable to landslides, making it the district most prone to such events in Kerala. It also lies in seismic Zone III. The impacts of the 2024 landslides in Chooralmala, Mundakkai and Punchirimattom remain evident, with official figures listing 298 deaths though local estimates were higher. Earlier incidents include the 1984 Mundakkai landslide, the 1992 Kappikkalam event that killed 11, and the 2007 Valamthode tragedy.
