Wayanad, July 11: The state executive has suspended all construction activities at the Kalladi Tunnel Phase-3 project in Wayanad following a fatal landslide that has claimed seven lives and left one senior official missing. The government has simultaneously approved an ex-gratia of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased and up to ₹2 lakh for the treatment of those wounded during the disaster.
The investigation will primarily focus on contract compliance and potential breaches of environmental guidelines laid down by the central government. Emergency teams from the National Disaster Response Force have concentrated their machinery around a designated sector of the debris field where the missing project manager was last seen before the hillside collapsed.
The retrieval of a victim’s body from the Meenachipuzha river on Friday confirmed the rising casualty count, prompting an expansion of the search perimeter further downstream. The disaster initially struck the project camp on July 7, burying structural equipment and living quarters under an immense volume of mud and rock.
The recovery environment has improved slightly over the weekend due to the complete stoppage of industrial operations in the higher reaches. Kerala Minister T Siddique declared that the clearing of muddy runoff has significantly enhanced underwater visibility for the divers combing the river channel. He asserted that a dedicated team is now systematically analyzing the river stretch, while confirming that all loose soil accumulated from the construction site will be permanently removed.
The specialized inquiry panel will review the exact chain of events that culminated in the disaster. District representatives stated that the technical committee is tasked with verifying whether the development consortium overlooked geological warning signs or breached structural clauses. Meanwhile, local rescue units continue to work through treacherous terrain to conclude the recovery mission.
