Wayanad landslide: Keralam CM Satheeshan directs ministers to oversee rescue operations
Thiruvananthapuram, July 7
Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheeshan on Tuesday held an emergency meeting following the Wayanad landslide and directed Wayanad Minister T Siddique to coordinate rescue and relief operations.
The Chief Minister also instructed Revenue Minister AP Anil Kumar and Agriculture Minister T Siddique to immediately proceed to Wayanad and oversee the situation on the ground.
The Keralam State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) said five people were injured after debris from the Wayanad-Kalladi tunnel construction site reportedly slid down due to heavy rainfall in the area. The injured have been admitted to a local hospital, and no casualties have been reported so far.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) unit stationed at Meenangadi has been directed to reach the accident site immediately. An NDRF team from Kozhikode has also been asked to move to Wayanad.
CM Satheeshan also spoke with the Wayanad District Collector over the phone to take stock of the situation.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert in Wayanad & Kozhikode on Tuesday, forecasting extremely heavy rainfall in the districts of Keralam, while Kannur and Kasaragod are likely to receive isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall.
According to the IMD's district rainfall forecast, Malappuram is also expected to witness isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall, while Idukki, Thrissur and Palakkad are likely to receive isolated heavy rainfall during the day.
The weather office said rainfall is very likely across all districts of Keralam over the next five days. However, the intensity is expected to gradually reduce from July 10, with most districts forecast to receive light to moderate rainfall through July 11.
The forecast indicates that districts in central Keralam, including Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam, may experience isolated heavy rainfall on July 8 before conditions improve later in the week.
The IMD has advised residents in the affected districts to remain alert as heavy rainfall may lead to waterlogging, reduced visibility and localised disruptions.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's heartbreaking to see Wayanad suffer again. The tunnel construction has been controversial for years – maybe this is a wake-up call. 🙏 Praying for the injured. Hope the red alert is taken seriously by tourists too.
As someone who visited Wayanad last year, this is worrying. The rains during monsoon are intense. Nice to see the state government acting swiftly. Hope the relief reaches remote tribal villages too, not just main roads. Thoughts with Kerala 🙏
😔 Another landslide in Wayanad. The tunnel construction near Kalladi definitely needs environmental audit. KSDMA should use this as a learning opportunity. Ministers T Siddique and AP Anil Kumar have to ensure quick evacuation routes. Red alert – people please stay indoors!
Thank god no casualties reported yet 🙏 Kerala's disaster management has improved since 2018 floods. But why are we still building tunnels in eco-sensitive zones? CM should order a geological survey before any more construction in Wayanad.
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