Terrifying Video Shows Moment Wayanad Landslide Swept Through Kalladi Project Site; One Dead

Last Updated:July 07, 2026, 14:32 IST

A chilling video shows the Wayanad landslide engulfing the Kalladi project site in seconds as rescuers search for seven missing amid heavy rain.

A dramatic video emerging from Kerala’s Wayanad district has captured the terrifying moment a massive landslide struck the Kalladi tunnel project site, showing an entire section of the hillside collapsing within seconds and sending a torrent of mud and debris towards the Meenakshi Bridge area.

The visuals, which have surfaced after Tuesday’s tragedy, underline the sheer speed and force of the landslide that claimed one life, left seven people injured and seven others missing, while triggering a large-scale rescue operation involving multiple agencies.

According to officials, the landslide occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, where work related to a tunnel road project connecting the Malappuram and Wayanad districts was underway.

Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue Services, police, Forest Department and local residents have been deployed to search for those feared trapped beneath the debris.

“The collapse occurred within a fraction of a second on a slope located at the extreme left edge, outside the designated construction boundary. Within three to four seconds, the debris rushed towards the Meenakshi Bridge area," an engineer associated with the project told the media.

According to the engineer, members of the technical team stationed on the opposite side of Meenakshi Bridge managed to escape safely, but several others were caught in the sudden surge of mud.

He further said that an office was functioning at the location where the landslide occurred.

“At the time of the incident, seven to eight workers were engaged in protection work or moving through the area, four to five security personnel were stationed nearby to monitor the slope, and two to three DBL engineers were positioned outside the primary construction perimeter," the engineer said.

The project team also maintained that tunnelling work had not been carried out since June 12 and that only reinforcement and safety-related activities were underway.

Around 15 personnel had reportedly been deployed at the designated mud disposal area to construct a gabion wall and undertake slope protection work when the landslide struck.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan said the tragedy was not caused by the absence of an appropriate weather warning but by the contractor’s failure to remove the large quantity of accumulated mud despite repeated directions from authorities.

He confirmed that one person had died, seven people were injured, and another seven remained missing.

He said police, fire and rescue personnel had already been deployed at the site, while additional rescue forces were on their way.

A defence force stationed in Thrissur has also been kept on standby for deployment if required.

As heavy rainfall continued in the area, the district administration began evacuating families living near the landslide site as a precautionary measure.

Officials said the Kalladi-Meppady road had been blocked following the landslide, and displaced residents were being shifted to temporary accommodation at Meppady.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Wayanad at 12.30 pm on Tuesday, shortly after the landslide occurred at around 11 am.

A red alert was also issued for neighbouring Kozhikode district, while orange alerts were sounded for Malappuram, Kannur and Kasaragod.

About the Author

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

News india Video Captures Moment Landslide Hit Tunnel Project In Wayanad: One Dead, Several Missing

Read More