Wayanad landslide: The memories of last year’s devastating landslide in Wayanad district of Kerala had not yet faded when another natural disaster spread panic. At least one person has died in a landslide triggered by heavy rains in Wayanad’s Kallady-Meppadi area. Seven people are missing and several others are injured. A massive rescue operation is being conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), fire department, police and local administration as it is feared that some more people may be trapped under the debris.
The landslide occurred near the Meenakshi bridge near Meppadi, where the construction work of the Anakkampoil-Meppadi tunnel road connecting Malampuram-Wayanadu is underway. There is a possibility of workers getting trapped due to sudden sliding of soil and rocks at the tunnel construction site. Local residents rescued some people in the initial phase, after which the rescue team intensified the operation.
The Kerala government is keeping a close eye on the situation and Chief Minister V.D. Satheeshan has held an emergency meeting with senior officials to review the rescue operation. He said that all departments are working in coordination to trace the missing people as soon as possible. The injured are being admitted to nearby hospitals and are undergoing treatment.
Another important information has come to light regarding this incident. It is being told that the District Collector and concerned officials had earlier issued instructions to remove the huge amount of soil accumulated in the tunnel construction area. However, it is alleged that the contractors did not follow those instructions properly. It is suspected that the landslide may have been so severe due to not removing the soil, and the matter is likely to be investigated.
Rescue operations are being hampered due to incessant rain and muddy conditions. However, the search for people trapped in the mud is continuing with the help of heavy machines, search equipment and trained personnel. The local administration has warned people not to go to risky areas unnecessarily.
Wayanad is already known for the risk of landslides. Last year, hundreds of people lost their lives in a massive landslide. Even after that disaster, many questions were raised regarding monsoon safety, environmental protection and infrastructure works in the region. Now, this latest incident has sparked a new debate on safety standards for development work in environmentally sensitive areas.
On the other hand, the Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains in many districts of Kerala and advised people living in hilly areas to remain alert. It has been requested to strictly follow the instructions of the local administration in landslide prone areas. The exact number of missing people and dead will be known only after the rescue operations are completed.
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