At least five people were injured after rubble from the Wayanad-Kalladi tunnel construction site in Kerala slid down due to heavy rains in the area on Tuesday. The injured are admitted to a local hospital, with no casualty reported so far, according to the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDFR) team from Meenangadi rushed to the incident site immediatetly according to the Kerala Chief Minsiter’s office.
Responding to the developing crisis, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan called an emergency meeting with Agriculture Minister T. Siddique to coordinate a rapid response.
The Chief Minister has ordered all rescue and relief operations to proceed “on a war footing.” Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar and Minister Siddique have both been dispatched to Wayanad immediately to oversee the disaster response on the ground.
As heavy rains continue to lash the region, the exact number of missing persons and the full extent of the devastation are still being verified by officials on-site.
Torrential rains, with nearby Meppadi recording a staggering 226 mm of rainfall in just 24 hours, are believed to have triggered the disaster.
Officials note that the situation was severely worsened by massive mounds of excavated earth stacked at the construction site, which turned into a deadly torrent of loose mud and crashed down onto the workspace.
So far, emergency teams have successfully pulled three people from the debris and moved them to safety, mewanwhile rescue operation continue.
Because the area doubles as a popular scenic stop for travelers, multiple private vehicles were parked nearby when the hillside gave way. Authorities fear that a number of workers, visitors, and tourists could still be trapped beneath the sludge. A commuter bus used to transport project workers is also missing and feared buried.
Bureau Report
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