Kerala landslide kills one, traps workers at tunnel site

A major landslide triggered by heavy monsoon rains struck a tunnel construction site in Kerala's Wayanad district on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, killing at least one person, injuring several others, and leaving an unknown number of workers feared trapped under debris. The disaster occurred near the Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, close to Meppadi, where work on the Anakkampoyil-Meppadi tunnel road project connecting Wayanad and Malappuram districts was underway.

Rescue operations involving local residents, police, Fire and Rescue Services, and National Disaster Response Force teams from Wayanad and Kozhikode are ongoing amid challenging conditions of continued rainfall and unstable terrain. Officials confirmed that local residents initially rescued three people from the site, where project workers were staying. Several workers were injured and transported to hospitals for treatment. While one fatality has been confirmed, the exact number of people potentially trapped remains unverified, with estimates from local reports varying.

The landslide damaged vehicles used to transport workers and affected the tunnel project site. Authorities had suspended work on the tunnel since Monday due to...