Wayanad Project Hit By Landslide: What Were Environmental Concerns Around Kerala’s Longest Road Tunnel?
Wayanad Project Hit By Landslide: What Were Environmental Concerns Around Kerala’s Longest Road Tunnel? Written By, Last Updated: July 07, 2026, 14:26 IST The Wayanad
Wayanad Project Hit By Landslide: What Were Environmental Concerns Around Kerala’s Longest Road Tunnel? Written By, Last Updated: July 07, 2026, 14:26 IST The Wayanad Tunnel Project will be the longest road tunnel in Kerala and the third-longest in India upon completion Rapid Read The Wayanad Tunnel Project is an under-construction, flagship infrastructure initiative in Kerala. (wayanadtunnel.com) A massive landslide on Tuesday struck the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi twin-tunnel road construction site near the Meenakshi Bridge in Kalladi, Wayanad. The incident occurred amid heavy rain, trapping multiple construction workers and labourers beneath the mud and debris. The Wayanad Tunnel Project, as it is commonly called, is a flagship infrastructure project currently under construction in Kerala. Managed by the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), it will be the longest road tunnel in Kerala and the third-longest in India upon completion. The project received final clearance from the Supreme Court in April 2026, and rock excavation officially commenced earlier this year. WHAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY? On July 7, 2026, following 265 mm of torrential rain within 24 hours, a major mudslide struck the Kalladi site near Meppadi. A concrete retaining wall built to reinforce the hillside collapsed, burying worker quarters, vehicles, and heavy machinery under mud and debris. While work was already under a rain-related safety suspension, multiple labourers were caught in the slide. NDRF and emergency services are actively carrying out rescue operations at the site. #WATCH | Wayanad, Keralam | Six people injured in landslide at Wayanad-Kalladi tunnel construction site amid heavy rainfall; Police and Administration are carrying out a search and rescue operation here.
Two teams of NDRF are on their way to the landslide site pic.twitter.com/jSLF4DM1u4— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2026 Local residents and emergency services rescued at least five workers alive from the debris. They were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Several workers and heavy machinery operators are still feared trapped under the collapsed wall and thick mud. Teams from the Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue Services, and local police are actively conducting rescue operations. Heavy rainfall and dense mud are severely hampering the use of earth-moving equipment at the site. Operations at the tunnel site had already been suspended following a stop memo issued due to monsoon risks. WAYANAD TUNNEL PROJECT WILL SAVE 45-60 MINUTES OF TRAVEL TIME The project bypasses the congested and ecologically sensitive Thamarassery Ghat Road (Churam), creating an all-weather alternative route. Total project length: 8.73 km Tunnel segment: 8.1-km twin-tube, four-lane underground pass Distance saved: The project will reduce the travel distance between Anakkampoyil and Meppadi from 42 km to under 20 km. Time saved: The tunnel is expected to cut the journey between Kozhikode and Wayanad by 45–60 minutes. Interstate lifeline: It will drastically shorten transit times from central Kerala to Bengaluru (Karnataka) and Tamil Nadu. TECHNICAL & FINANCIAL BLUEPRINT Estimated cost: ₹2,134.50 crore, funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). Tunnel design: Two parallel underground tubes with two traffic lanes in each direction. Primary contractor: Dilip Buildcon Limited.
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