5 killed in Kerala mudslide, rescuers search for missing people

At least five people were killed in a major mudslide at the Meppadi-Kalladi tunnel construction site in Kerala's Wayanad on Tuesday, while three persons remained missing and seven others were undergoing treatment in hospital, as rescue teams pressed ahead with a massive search operation involving personnel, heavy earth-moving machinery, and sniffer dogs.

Authorities said the rescue efforts would continue through the night in the hope of tracing the missing workers buried under the huge mound of earth that collapsed at the construction site. Meppadi police have registered a case in connection with the incident, and investigations are under way.

The disaster unfolded around 11am after a large section of the hillside overlooking the construction site suddenly gave way following intense rainfall. Within seconds, mud, rocks and water surged downhill, engulfing heavy machinery, temporary structures, vehicles and portions of the worksite before crashing across nearby roads and into the Meenakshi River.

Nine people were rescued from the debris and rushed to hospitals, with several admitted to WIMS Hospital and Dr. Moopen's Medical College Hospital. Hospital authorities said the injured were receiving treatment, with one person reported to be in critical condition. Officials said rescue operations were continuing as fears remained that more workers could still be trapped beneath the collapsed hillside.

Rescue workers use an excavator to clear the debris as bus partially sinks. Reuters

The India Meteorological Department had placed Wayanad under a Red Alert for extremely heavy rainfall, with the district receiving about 265 mm of rain in the previous 24 hours. Continuous rain and unstable ground have significantly hampered rescue efforts, while authorities warned of the possibility of additional landslides.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue Services, Police, Forest Department and district administration, assisted by local residents, launched a large-scale search operation immediately after the incident. Excavators were pressed into service to remove enormous quantities of mud, but rescuers said the unstable terrain made every operation hazardous.

Minister for Revenue AP Anil Kumar said the government's immediate focus remained on locating anyone trapped beneath the debris. "If anyone is trapped under the soil, finding and rescuing them is our primary priority," he said. Chief Minister VD Satheesan convened an emergency review meeting and directed Minister Anil Kumar and Minister for Agriculture T Siddique to proceed to Wayanad to supervise rescue and relief operations. The Chief Minister also reviewed the situation with senior officials of the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority.

A woman carries a baby as she moves to a safer place. Reuters

Minister Siddique alleged that the disaster appeared to have resulted from the "unscientific accumulation of mud" near the construction site. He said repeated warnings had been issued regarding indiscriminate dumping of excavated soil and that authorities had directed contractors to halt work during heavy rain and remove the accumulated earth. "The government will investigate why these directions were not implemented," Siddique said, adding that a detailed inquiry would determine whether lapses in safety protocols contributed to the tragedy.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as the hillside collapsed without warning. Plantation worker Mani, who watched the disaster unfold from his nearby home, said the landslide began with a deafening roar before the entire slope appeared to collapse. "It sounded like an explosion," he recalled. "The hill started moving and within seconds heavy machinery, vehicles and everything near the tunnel entrance disappeared beneath the mud. People ran in every direction, but many had no chance to escape", he recounted. He said the mud swept across the road, destroyed buildings near Meenakshi Bridge and temporarily blocked the river before accumulated water burst through with tremendous force, carrying debris downstream.

Engineers associated with the project maintained that active tunnelling work had been suspended since 12 June and that only reinforcement and slope protection activities were being carried out when the landslide struck. According to them, the collapse originated outside the designated tunnel excavation area and reached the Meenakshi Bridge within seconds.

The district administration has evacuated vulnerable families living near the site and established temporary relief camps as a precaution. Police have restricted public access while authorities continue to monitor the unstable hillside.