Published Jul 08, 2026 | 7:26 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 08, 2026 | 7:26 AM
Agriculture Minister T Siddique and Revenue Minister AP Anilkumar at the scene on Tuesday night.
Synopsis: Public entry to the disaster-hit area in the Wayanad district of Kerala has been strictly prohibited as search operations continue for five people who remain missing. Meanwhile, Chief Minister VD Satheesan is scheduled to visit the disaster site to review the ongoing rescue and relief operations.
Public entry to the disaster-hit area in the Wayanad district of Kerala has been strictly prohibited as search operations continue for five people who remain missing, Minister T Siddique said late on Tuesday, 7 July.
The minister said the search is being carried out with the utmost care, with authorities intensifying efforts to trace the missing. To improve the efficiency of the operation, the affected area has been divided into four zones, with dedicated inspection teams deployed in each sector.
“The mission is continuing by utilising all available possibilities to find survivors. Additional mission teams will join the operations from tomorrow,” Siddique said.
Three people were killed after a soil piping incident triggered by incessant heavy rainfall struck the twin-tunnel construction site near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi in Meppadi of the Wayanad district.
The deceased have been identified as operator Chandra Bhan from Madhya Pradesh, civil foreman Bikash Kumar from Bihar and labourer Anmol of Jharkhand.
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The minister also said 23 families are currently staying in relief camps, where all essential facilities have been arranged. Special attention is being given to the needs of children in the camps.
According to the available information, soil was piled up to a height of 7–10 feet, severely affecting the area.
A total of 375 personnel, including 65 members of the NDRF, 100 police officers, 158 Fire Force and Civil Defence personnel, 52 workers from Uralungal Society, along with volunteers and residents, participated in the first day’s rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister VD Satheesan is scheduled to visit the disaster site on Wednesday to review the ongoing rescue and relief operations.
With rains continuing in Wayanad, authorities have imposed a complete restriction on public entry into the disaster zone for safety reasons. Traffic through the affected stretch has also been suspended, and officials said urgent measures are underway to restore road connectivity at the earliest.
Authorities confirmed that a bus trapped beneath the debris, which was used to transport workers to the project site, had no employees inside at the time of the incident.
A house and a church located at the foot of the Meenakshi Bridge sustained damage. Officials said the excavated soil would be shifted to a suitable dumping site.
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Minister Siddique directed Public Works Department officials to inspect the structural safety of the road and Meenakshi Bridge after the accumulated soil is cleared.
The search for the missing people will continue using heavy machinery, including Hitachi excavators, JCBs, tippers and other equipment deployed across four operational zones.
Those reported missing are construction manager Vikram Rana (Himachal Pradesh), engineer Rahul (Himachal Pradesh), excavator operator Mohammed Imran (Bihar), and surveyors Rakesh Guchait (West Bengal) and Azharuddin Ansari (Uttar Pradesh).
The bodies of three victims will be shifted to Kozhikode Medical College for embalming before being airlifted to their hometowns on Wednesday in coordination with the state government and Konkan Railway.
The District Collector and District Medical Officer have been tasked with facilitating travel arrangements for the relatives of the missing and deceased. Search teams also deployed two sniffer dogs and two cadaver dogs to assist in locating those still missing.
Meanwhile, 76 people from 23 affected families have been accommodated at a relief camp established at Meppadi Polytechnic College, while other residents have moved in with relatives.
Authorities have ensured the availability of essential supplies, including food, drinking water and medicines, at the camp.
Of the eight people admitted to Meppadi WIMS Hospital following the incident, three have been discharged after their condition improved, while five remain under treatment. Two are under intensive care.
(With inputs from Dileep V Kumar.)
