A devastating landslide at Kalladi near the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi twin tunnel project in Kerala’s Wayanad claimed three lives, injured eight people and left seven missing, according to the government. As rescue teams continued search operations, terrifying CCTV footage of the disaster revealed how narrowly several people escaped death. NDRF, Police and Fire & Rescue Services are leading the relief activities.
The footage shows tonnes of mud, rocks and debris hurtling down the hillside in a massive wave, overwhelming everything in its path. Workers and bystanders are seen running helter-skelter for safety moments before the landslide swept away a fuel tanker parked at the site.
#BREAKING | Terrifying Wayanad Tunnel Site Landslide: 3 Dead, 9 Injured
A massive landslide triggered by heavy rainfall struck the under-construction Anakkampoyil–Meppadi tunnel project near Kalladi, Meppady, in Kerala’s Wayanad district.
At least three people have been killed… pic.twitter.com/KDcFjfZQnX
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) July 7, 2026
The force of the landslide also damaged a local mosque and nearby houses, buried vehicles under thick layers of soil and blocked bridges and roads, leaving the affected area isolated.
Even as the official death toll remained at three, local environmental activist Shaji Chooralmala claimed he had seen five bodies at the site. He alleged that Wayanad has 22 identified landslide-prone locations, but local residents have not been informed about them.
Referring to disaster preparedness, Shaji Chooralmala said he had met Amruthanandamayi Amma, who informed him that the Mission was ready to install an early warning system if permission was granted. According to him, the required permission has not yet been accorded.
Most of the victims are migrant labourers working on the tunnel project. The District Collector had ordered the construction works to be stopped two weeks back in view of the landslide. However, the labourers remained in their camps.
The main reason is said to be the presence of one lakh cubic metres of soil that had not been removed from the tunnel construction site.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan stated that the mishap was man-made. He said that Konkan Railways, the contractor of the tunnel project, did not remove the large quantities of soil that remained there.
Wayanad landslide: The District Collector and the State Disaster Management Authority directed the contractor on June 20 to remove the accumulated soil, and the PWD Minister later reiterated the instruction. The contractor failed to comply with the directions issued by the SDMA,…
— V D Satheesan (@vdsatheesan) July 7, 2026
However, according to reports, there are minutes of a meeting between the government representatives and the contractors.
The contractors had asked the government to zero in on a place for dumping the soil. It is reported that the contractors were not granted a place.
According to reports, the contractor’s demand had been recorded in the minutes of the meeting held on June 25, and the District Collector had promised to comply with it. Kerala PWD’s representative had also reportedly participated in that meeting.
The affected families have been rehabilitated in a nearby school. RSS-inspired Seva Bharati has entered the affected spot and started relief activities.
Seva Bharati volunteers rushed in and joined for the rescue works and assisted rescue operation by local authorities at Meppadi–Chooralmala Road, near the entrance to the Kalladi Tunnel at Wayanad District, Kerala. pic.twitter.com/Xp2XGxZfQB
— Rajesh Padmar (@rajeshpadmar) July 7, 2026
Details of the number of victims, both the dead and the missing, being received are contradictory. There are allegations that the place selected for the construction of the tunnel is too soft and fragile. It is still not clear if the erstwhile CPM-led Left Democratic Government had obtained the Central Forest & Environment Ministry’s approval for the tunnel project.
BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that the state government cannot blame the contractors and escape. The mishap was possible and likely, yet the government did not stop the work.
Deeply saddened by the tragic Wayanad landslide 💔
My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of those injured 🙏
The government itself has admitted that the large-scale, unscientific dumping of soil led to this… pic.twitter.com/F3TG35DVaC
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) July 7, 2026
The Central Meteorological Department said there was no fault in its forecast.
The people of Wayanad and Kerala are still not free from the shock of the darkest mishap of the Chooralmala-Mundakkai landslides of July 30, 2024. The official death toll was 403, but the natives believe it must have been above 500 because there is still no clue about around 100 missing people.
