At least two persons were killed in a landslide at a site of road tunnel project in the Kelladi area of Kerala’s Wayanad district on Tuesday, ANI reported.The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority said that the debris accumulated during excavation of the Wayanad-Kelladi tunnel slid down after heavy rainfall.Seven persons are missing and seven others have been rescued, ANI quoted Chief Minister VD Satheesan as saying.The chief minister said that the soil excavated during the construction work should have been removed. He claimed that the contractors did not obey the orders of the Public Works Department Minister PK Basheer and collector to clear the mud accumulated in the area, The New Indian Express reported.VIDEO | Kerala: Landslide near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, where work on a tunnel road project connecting Malappuram and Wayanad districts was going on. One killed, seven injured, another seven missing, says Kerala CM V D Satheesan. CCTV visuals of the incident.#KeralaNews… pic.twitter.com/4tUkNZCUz7— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 7, 2026
“The problem is this piled-up soil,” ANI quoted Satheesan as saying. “It was known that if it rained, it would lead to an accident.”The region received around 225 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, the chief minister added.Several more persons are feared trapped under the debris, ANI reported.Personnel from the police and the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed for rescue efforts.Videos shared on social media showed debris gushing towards bystanders near the site of the landslide.— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 7, 2026
