Kerala govt sets up expert panel to oversee Wayanad landslide debris removal

Thiruvananthapuram,UPDATED: Jul 11, 2026 11:37 IST

The Kerala government has set up a three-member expert committee to inspect the tunnel and township project sites in Wayanad and submit a report on the removal of debris left behind by the July 7 landslide. Seven bodies have been recovered from the landslide site so far.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister VD Satheesan with Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Public Works Minister P K Basheer on Friday, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office. The government has asked the panel to visit the sites and submit its report quickly.

The committee will have Dr Santhosh G Thampi, professor at NIT Calicut, Dr Jude Emmanuel, Environmental Scientist at the Directorate of Environmental and Climate Change, and a representative of the Director, National Centre for Earth Science Studies.

An order issued by the Disaster Management Department said the panel will visit the tunnel and Wayanad township project sites and guide the District Disaster Management Authority in the safe removal of debris accumulated at both locations.

In the case of the tunnel project, the debris will be shifted to disposal sites identified by the Public Works Department. For the township project, the Project Implementation Unit will identify the location where the mud will be deposited.

The order said the committee will also prepare a short action plan with adequate safeguards for the removal of the debris, which will then be followed by the Public Works Department and the Project Implementation Unit. The Wayanad District Collector has been directed to provide all necessary assistance to the committee, the statement said.

In sum, the state has moved to bring in expert guidance for clearing debris at the Wayanad tunnel and township project sites after the landslide, while asking the panel to act quickly and submit its report at the earliest.

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