Wayanad landslide: Death toll reaches 4 as another body retrieved from site
Wayanad, July 9
The search and rescue operations at the landslide site in Kerala's Wayanad entered a critical phase on Thursday, with authorities recovering one more body from the debris, bringing the confirmed death toll to four.
The landslide, which occurred on Tuesday, July 7, struck a tunnel construction site at Kalladi in Meppadi Grama Panchayat, burying workers under an estimated 7 to 10 feet of mud and boulders.
Among those who lost their lives was Anmol Dodrai, a young man from the Khunti district of Jharkhand. His remains arrived at Ranchi airport on Thursday, where they were received by grieving family members before being transported to his native village in the Torpa block.
Anmol had moved to Kerala five months ago in search of work to support his family. His elder sister, Premlata Dodrai, recounted the devastating news, noting that the family had initially been unaware of the extent of the disaster.
"We received information that it was raining heavily there and a landslide occurred... We didn't have much information at first. Then later, around 7:30-8:00 PM, we found out he is no more," she told ANI.
For the Dodrai family, Anmol's journey to Kerala was meant to be the beginning of a better future. "We are from a poor family. This was the first time Anmol had gone out to work. He said he would earn some money, build a house, do something for us, and get married properly with his own money," Premlata shared, visibly shaken.
She also recalled their final attempt to contact him, noting that his phone went unanswered on Monday, just a day before the tragedy struck. His younger sister, Sushma Dodrai, remembered their last interaction in June, when the siblings spoke about his plans and personal expenses.
Rescue teams continue to navigate through thick sludge and massive boulders at the Kalladi site, working tirelessly to locate those still unaccounted for. Visuals from the scene on Thursday morning depicted the immense challenges faced by personnel as they manoeuvred through the difficult terrain.
The district administration and local agencies remain on-site to oversee the recovery efforts as the community grapples with the aftermath of the natural disaster.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is truly tragic. I'm from Kerala and these landslides are becoming more frequent due to extreme weather and deforestation. The tunnel project in Kalladi needs to be investigated for safety protocols. We can't just blame nature—poor planning often adds to the risk. RIP Anmol ji. 🙏
Reading Premlata's words brought tears to my eyes. "He said he would earn some money, build a house, do something for us, and get married properly with his own money." This is the story of so many young Indians chasing dreams in unfamiliar places. The family didn't even know about the disaster initially—communication gaps are another tragedy here. 💔
I appreciate the rescue teams working in such difficult conditions—thick sludge and boulders are no joke. But why is it that whenever a tragedy like this happens, we see these slow responses? The death toll is only 4 for now, but those still missing need immediate attention. Hope the administration speeds up operations.
The story of Anmol is deeply moving. He left his village in Jharkhand, traveled across the country to Kerala, and this happens. It's a reminder of how vulnerable our migrant workforce is. They build our cities and work in our tunnels, yet they have no safety nets. 🙏 May his soul rest in peace, and strength to the family.
Four lives lost, but the pain is multiplied for each family. It's good that the authorities are finally recovering bodies, but we should also focus on why this happened—was the geology of the area properly studied before starting tunnel work in monsoon season?
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.