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A major rescue operation is underway at Kalladi near Meppadi in Wayanad following a massive mudslide triggered by torrential monsoon rains near the entrance of the under-construction Wayanad tunnel road (Anakkampoyil–Kalladi–Meppadi) project linking Kozhikode to Wayanad on Tuesday (July 7, 2026).
The incident occurred near the Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi. Officials said rescue operations were underway. At least five people have been pulled alive from the debris and shifted to a hospital. The rescues took place near the temporary quarters used by the tunnel project’s labourers. Work on the tunnel road had already been suspended after the authorities issued a stop memo in view of the heavy monsoon rains.
Also Read: Wayanad mudslide LIVE updates
According to eyewitnesses, a concrete retaining wall built to reinforce the hillside collapsed under the pressure of sudden heavy rainfall, sending a torrent of mud and debris onto the site.
While no fatalities have been officially confirmed, authorities fear that more workers or heavy machinery operators may still be trapped beneath the collapsed wall and debris. Several vehicles have been found crushed and buried. Officials are currently cross-referencing worker logs to determine the exact number of people unaccounted for. Residents of nearby houses are being evacuated as a precaution.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with the local police and Fire and Rescue services are actively engaged in the rescue operation. The incident occurred close to a cluster of residential houses and holiday homestays.
Rescue efforts are being severely hampered by heavy rain and thick mud, which are complicating the use of earth-moving equipment.
Wayanad District Collector D.R. Meghashree and other senior officials have arrived at the site to oversee the rescue operations.
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