Wayanad Landslide Caught on Camera; Videos Go Viral

A massive landslide triggered by relentless monsoon rains struck an under-construction tunnel road project site at Kalladi near Meppadi in Kerala’s Wayanad district on Tuesday morning. The disaster has resulted in at least two confirmed fatalities, while more than 10 people are feared trapped beneath the heavy debris. Emergency response teams, alongside local residents, are actively conducting search and rescue operations amid challenging weather conditions.

Sudden Landslide Caught on Camera

The incident occurred around 11:00 AM near the Meenakshi Bridge, a key zone for the Anakkompoyil–Kalladi–Meppadi tunnel road project. The moment the disaster unfolded was caught on camera, showing a massive wall of mud and a concrete retaining wall collapsing down the hillside. The dramatic footage captured a torrent of mud and rock engulfing a bus used to transport project employees, completely crushing the vehicle. Authorities suspect that multiple vehicles, passengers, and laborers were caught in the direct path of the slope failure. Wayanad Landslide: 5 Injured After Heavy Rains Trigger Hill Collapse at Tunnel Project Site (Watch Videos).

Death Toll and Immediate Rescue Operations

According to state disaster management officials, two individuals have been confirmed dead, and seven others have been hospitalised with injuries. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan held an emergency meeting to assess the disaster and confirmed that several individuals remain missing.

Local residents were the first to respond, pulling three survivors from the mud before official teams arrived. Currently, a 30-person team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), alongside units from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Fire and Rescue Services from Kalpetta and Sulthan Bathery, are leading the operation. Heavy earth-moving equipment has been deployed to clear the debris, though continuous mud slips are severely hindering their progress.

IMD Issues Red Alert Amid Rain Warning

The disaster follows exceptional amounts of localized rainfall, with Vythiri recording 123 mm and Mananthavady receiving 64 mm earlier in the day. In response to the tragedy and ongoing weather patterns, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an immediate 'Red Alert' for Wayanad and neighboring Kozhikode districts, warning of continued extremely heavy rainfall. Cloudburst Triggers Flash Floods in Kishtwar, Burying Vehicles Near Kwar Hydel Project (Watch Video).

Sudden Landslide Caught on Camera

Are We Ignoring Nature's Warnings?

An 'Orange Alert' remains active for Malappuram, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts. Due to the high risk of secondary landslides, authorities have ordered the immediate evacuation of families residing downstream of the Meenakshi Bridge to temporary relief camps.

2024 Landslide Fears Return

The location of Tuesday’s mudslide is near the entrance of a major infrastructure project designed to connect Malappuram, Kozhikode, and Wayanad via an underground tunnel. Work at the site had recently been issued a stop memo by local authorities due to escalating safety concerns brought on by the monsoon.

This latest event has renewed regional anxieties regarding environmental vulnerability. The Meppadi region is highly susceptible to terrain instability and was the site of the catastrophic July 2024 landslides, which claimed over 400 lives. Government ministers T. Siddique and A.P. Anil Kumar have rushed to the district to directly oversee the unfolding emergency coordination and state response.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 07, 2026 02:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).