Konkan Railway Expresses Grief Over Wayanad Landslide That Killed 5 People, Left Several Missing
Konkan Railway Expresses Grief Over Wayanad Landslide That Killed 5 People, Left Several Missing Published By, Last Updated: July 08, 2026, 14:57 IST At least
Konkan Railway Expresses Grief Over Wayanad Landslide That Killed 5 People, Left Several Missing Published By, Last Updated: July 08, 2026, 14:57 IST At least five people were killed and several unaccounted for as a landslide struck an under-construction tunnel road in the Wayanad district of Keralam A bus is stuck in debris after a landslide in Keralam's Wayanad | Image credit: PTI The Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) on Wednesday expressed grief over the landslide incident that struck an under-construction tunnel road in the Wayanad district of Keralam, killing at least five people and leaving several unaccounted for. The incident occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, near the site of the ongoing Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel road project that is being executed under a contractual agreement between Konkan Railways and infrastructure company Dilip Buildcon Limited. In an official statement, accessed by CNN-News18, the Konkan Railways said: “Konkan Railway Corporation Limited expresses its deep sorrow over the unfortunate incident involving a soil slip near the entrance of under-construction tunnel at Kalladi near Meppadi in Wayanad on Tuesday." The railway body extended condolences to the families of the deceased, maintaining the project was being carried with “all prescribed safety and environmental protocols".
“Our thoughts are with the affected persons and their families during this difficult time. The Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel road project linking Kozhikode-Wayanad is being executed through a mutually agreed contractual agreement with Dilip Buildcon Limited. The work has been carried out in strict compliance with all prescribed safety and environmental protocols", the statement read. Earlier, Dilip Buildcon dismissed the possibility of any technical error that could have led to the landslide, stating that the project was being carried out in line with all engineering, safety and environmental approvals and protocols. A ‘Man-Made Disaster’ Keralam Agriculture Minister T Siddique described the tragedy as a “man-made" disaster and said the cause behind the incident was “unscientific dumping" of debris at the site. Siddique said the government was probing why a massive heap of mud taken out of the tunnel project was placed at the site without any safety measure. “Instructions were given to the authorities concerned to remove it. The instructions were not followed at all," he said.
The minister highlighted that instructions were also given that eight families ––residing near the project –– were to be relocated to ensure their safety. “The locals had complained there was an issue with water flowing out of the project. This was not a natural landslide but a man-made one caused by mud that was put there after drilling in the tunnel project," he stated. The government, meanwhile, announced the suspension of the Rs 2,400-crore project that proposes to connect Meppadi in Wayanad and Anakkampoyil in Kozhikode district. VIDEO | Kerala: A day after a landslide at the tunnel road construction site in Wayanad district claimed three lives, extensive search operations are ongoing to find five people who are still missing following the incident. Visuals from the incident site.#WayanadLandslide… pic.twitter.com/T6vJU6Peb Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 8, 2026 Rescue operations at the site of the landslide remain underway, with teams of the Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue Services, police, and Forest Department personnel present.
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