Wayanad landslide: Three dead, several missing after landslide at Kalladi tunnel construction

Three people were killed after a landslide struck the Kalladi tunnel construction site on Tuesday in Meppadi grama panchayat of Keralams Wayanad district officials saidWhile briefing about the devastating landslide in Keralam the officials further added that efforts are underway to trace seven other persons who have gone missing after the incidentAccording to the district administration 18 people were caught in the landslide near the Meenakshi Bridge at the KalladiAnakkampoyil tunnel construction site completely disrupting traffic on the MeppadiChooralmala roadNine injured several missing after landslide strikes WayanadAs per ANI nine of them sustained injuries and were quickly shifted to Meppadi WIMS Hospital for treatment Officials further asserted that search operations are underway to trace the remaining seven missing personsThose affected include workers engaged at the project site security personnel and supervisory staffSearch operations underwaySearch and rescue operations are being carried out by multiple agencies with Keralam Police deploying sniffer dogs to assist in locating those trapped under the debrisA review meeting following the devastating landslide in Wayanad chaired by MLA I C Balakrishnan was held at Kalladi to coordinate rescue effortsMLA C K Asha District Panchayat President Chandrika Krishnan District Collector D R Meghashree District Police Chief Deva Manohar ADM K Ajish SubCollector Athul Sagar local elected representatives and other officials also attended the meeting as per ANIEvacuation and rehabilitation work underwayTemporary shelters have been arranged at the Mundakkai Forest Station and the Chooralmala Church Hall for residents stranded on either side of the bridge Authorities have also taken steps to ensure the safety of schoolchildren and evacuate residents from vulnerable areas including Erattukundu Attamala Mammikkunnu and Ambedkar ColonyOfficials while briefing about the situation said that construction work at the tunnel site had already been suspended due to heavy rainfall following earlier directions from the district administration The Public Works Department has been directed to inspect the structural safety of the Meenakshi Bridge after the debris is clearedSurvivors express about landslide horror in WayanadSpeaking to the media a survivor of the landslide Ashik recounted the incident and said the landslide struck suddenlyHe said The entire mound of soil that had been piled up there suddenly collapsed and came crashing down The incident happened at around 11 am as cited by ANIAn eyewitness Ajmal said the incident unfolded within moments after people heard a loud sound and rushed out of nearby shopsAjmal said We first heard a small sound and everyone immediately ran out of the shop At first we saw a small portion of the soil sliding down When we heard the sound and came outside the small landslide suddenly turned into a massive collapse We warned everyone nearby to move away People were waiting at the bus stop and laborers were working in the area as per ANIAjmal said that a tanker lorry was swept away by the landslide as people tried to fleeHe further added As we were asking them to run a tanker lorry on the other side of the bridge was swept away by the landslide and carried towards us I think around 1015 people were buried So far four people have been rescued We still dont know whether the people on the bridge fell into the river or are trapped under the debrisUnion Minister Suresh Gopu assures centers helpUnion Minister of State Suresh Gopi said the situation following the Wayanad landslide was under the control of the Keralam government and assured that the Centre would provide additional personnel and technical assistance if requestedGopi while talking to the media said I think now it is perfectly under the control of the state government If they need more forces or expertise then they will definitely ask for it It is not service or help it is our responsibility as per ANIWith inputs from ANI