Wayanad Landslide: Road Access Restored, Rescue Speeds Up

Full road connectivity to the Kalladi landslide site in Wayanad has been restored, a critical development that authorities expect will significantly accelerate ongoing rescue efforts.

Kerala Agriculture Minister T Siddique confirmed that all roads blocked by the mudslide were cleared by 4:00 AM on Wednesday, facilitating the smooth movement of heavy machinery, essential equipment, and specialised rescue teams to the disaster zone.

Speaking to ANI, Siddique said that following the landslide that struck the tunnel construction site at approximately 11:15 AM on Tuesday, three victims have been confirmed dead, while five others remain missing.

He said that the bodies of the three deceased have been transferred to Government Medical College, Kozhikode, for embalming. By noon today, they are scheduled to be transported by ambulance to Kochi Airport for transit to their respective native states.

How is the Wayanad landslide rescue operation progressing on the ground?

"The bodies of the three people who died in this incident have been shifted from Taluka Hospital to Government Medical College, Kozhikode, and the embalming process is now going on. By around noon, the bodies will be shifted by ambulance to Kochi Airport, from where they will be flown to their respective native places," the Minister added.

The rescue operation is being conducted in full mode, with agencies including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Rapid Response Force (RRF), and Fire and Rescue Services working in coordinated zones to locate the missing.

Two cadaver dogs are currently deployed at the site, with expectations for two or three additional dogs to arrive in the afternoon to assist in the search.

The debris, which covers large sections of the worksite under 7 to 10 feet of mud, also buried a bus used to transport workers, though authorities confirmed the vehicle was empty at the time of the incident.

"The rescue effort is ongoing in full mode. We have our NDRF, RRF and Fire Force teams, and we are using the services of cadaver dogs also. The road towards the Chooralmala area is fully cleared and is vehicle-worthy. On both sides of the road, massive earth has piled up and we have to remove that mud," District Police Chief of Wayanad S Deva Manohar told reporters.

"We are currently employing two cadaver dogs, and we are expecting two or three more dogs in the afternoon. We have recovered three bodies so far. We have received information that five more people are missing. We are concentrating on locating the missing people," he added.

The landslide occurred within a 200-metre radius of the tunnel construction site, burying large sections of the worksite under 7 to 10 feet of mud and debris. Authorities have divided the rescue operation into four zones to ensure systematic searches.

(With inputs from ANI)