Wayanad landslide: One more body recovered as rescue efforts continue on sixth day, death toll rises to eight
Wayanad, July 12
The search and rescue teams on Sunday recovered the body of Vikram Rana, the last person missing in the landslide that struck Wayanad's Kalladi, officials said.
With this recovery, the total death toll in the tragic incident has reached eight.
The deceased has been identified as Vikram Rana, who was working as a construction manager with Dileep Buildcon. His body was retrieved on the sixth day of a massive search operation conducted by multiple agencies.
According to officials, the body was initially moved to the mortuary at the Vythiri Taluk Government Hospital for primary procedures. Following a post-mortem examination, the remains were transported to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital for embalming.
The Keralam government on Saturday announced ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) to the dependents of those who lost their lives in the landslide at Kalladi Tunnel Phase-3 in Wayanad district.
According to the release, financial assistance for medical treatment, up to Rs 2 lakh, depending on the nature of the injuries, is also sanctioned for those who were injured.
"It is hereby ordered to constitute an expert committee to investigate the cause of the Kalladi accident and submit a report. The committee shall examine whether the contractor violated any contractual conditions related to the tunnel construction, the circumstances that led to the incident, compliance with the environmental clearance granted by the Central Government, and the forest/environmental clearances issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It is further ordered that construction work related to the tunnel shall resume only after the expert committee's report is received," the release stated.
The landslide struck on July 7 near the tunnel construction site at Kalladi in Meppadi Grama Panchayat, burying a large portion of the worksite under an estimated 7 to 10 feet of debris.
On Friday, rescue teams recovered the body of Rajesh, a native of East Midnapore in West Bengal, from the Meenachipuzha river downstream. The body was identified by his family members before being shifted for postmortem and embalming ahead of its transportation to his hometown.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is tragic, but I hope the committee looks into whether environmental clearances were properly followed. Wayanad is a fragile eco-sensitive zone—tunnel construction there always carries risks. The contractor and government need to be held accountable if there were violations.
Six days of rescue efforts… salute to the teams who worked tirelessly to recover the bodies. 🙏 But why did it take so long? The authorities should have deployed more resources from day one. Let's hope the investigation brings clarity and justice.
Heartbreaking to see another life lost in this landslide. My thoughts are with the families of Vikram and Rajesh. The ex gratia and medical assistance are welcome, but I hope the committee's findings lead to better safety protocols in construction projects across India.
A very sad incident. Wayanad is prone to landslides due to its terrain and rainfall—this should have been foreseen. I appreciate the state government's swift action in forming a committee and providing compensation, but the real test will be implementation of recommendations.
Terrible news. The rescue teams deserve credit for their perseverance over six days. But I can't help thinking—was this preventable? Construction in such geologically sensitive areas needs strict oversight. Let's hope the investigation leads to changes that save lives in future.
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