Kerala:
A major landslide triggered by persistent heavy rains hit Wayanad district in Kerala on Tuesday, killing two people and triggering a large-scale rescue operation. Authorities fear several more people may still be trapped under the rubble.
The landslide occurred near Meenakshi Bridge in Kallady, near the construction site of the Anakkompoil-Meppadi tunnel road connecting Malappuram and Wayanad districts. Construction workers were on site at the time of the incident.
Check out #TheSouthernView | Two people killed in massive landslide in Wayanad in Kerala after heavy rain; Chief Minister V.D. Satisan sums up @journalistaswin pic.twitter.com/hmMERzimOa
— NDTV (@ndtv) July 7, 2026
Rescue operations were launched immediately, with local residents coming to the rescue and pulling people to safety. Authorities now fear that up to 10 people may still be trapped under the rubble. Meanwhile, six injured were hospitalized for treatment.
Following the #Wayanad landslide, the Chief Minister held an emergency meeting with Minister T Siddique and ordered immediate coordination of rescue operations. Revenue Minister A P Anil Kumar and Minister T Siddique were directed to reach Wayanad. #NDRF teams from… pic.twitter.com/HB0ZYc6Kki
— Ashish (@KP_Aashish) July 7, 2026
Fire and rescue services rushed to the spot and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also joined the rescue operations. Talking to reporters, Kerala Revenue Minister Anil Kumar said the rescue operation has begun and a team of 30 NDRF personnel has reached the spot.
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram | Regarding the landslide in Wayanad, Keralam Revenue Minister Anil Kumar said, “The rescue operation has already begun. A team of 30 NDRF personnel arrived there. We collect information about the tragedy and then announce everything.” pic.twitter.com/S4Q1x29G4O
– ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2026
Authorities said the area received 265mm of rain in the past 24 hours, with incessant rain believed to have triggered the landslide. The incident damaged several vehicles used to transport workers building the tunnel.
Wayanad, Keralam: A landslide occurred near Meppadi tunnel road this morning, leaving eight people injured. One of the victims is reported to be in critical condition. Rescue teams have arrived at the scene, operations are currently underway to provide assistance to the victims and evacuate the injured… pic.twitter.com/ThBd2fQapA
– IANS (@ians_india) July 7, 2026
Chief Minister holds emergency meeting following landslide in Wayanad
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Tuesday called an emergency meeting with Kerala Agriculture Minister T Siddique following the landslide in Wayanad.
After the meeting, the Chief Minister directed officials to carry out rescue and humanitarian operations in a military spirit.
Following the landslide near Meenakshi Bridge at Kallady in #Wayanad, the government has reviewed the situation. An emergency meeting was held with Agriculture Minister T. Siddique, the district representative. Instructions have been given to coordinate rescue operations without…
– V.D. Satheesan (@vdsatheesan) July 7, 2026
He also directed AP Minister Anil Kumar and Minister Siddique to immediately go to the area and personally supervise the rescue work.
The Chief Minister also said that one person was killed, seven were injured and seven others were missing after a landslide hit the Kallady tunnel construction site in Kerala’s Wayanad district. He also alleged that the tunnel project contractor did not comply with the June 20 order of the district collector and the Disaster Management Authority directing the removal of soil from the construction site.
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram | At the Wayanad landslide,
Keralam Vice-President Satheeshan said, “One death has been reported. According to preliminary information, seven people were hospitalized, seven people were missing. Police and fire service… pic.twitter.com/JoUqcE06vE– ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2026
“Artificial landslide”
Meanwhile, Kerala Minister T Siddique said the landslide in Wayanad was “man-made” and the result of negligence, saying authorities had earlier warned Konkan Railways about the risk of landslide at the site.
He also said six injured were in stable condition and blamed the railways for inaction despite advance warnings, drawing parallels with the 2024 Mundakkai landslide in Wayanad that killed 298 people.
Talking to reporters, the minister said: “This is not a natural landslide, but an artificial landslide. This is a clear case of omission. Six people were seriously injured and hospitalized. Their condition is stable. We will continue search and rescue operations at the Kallady site. Kozhikode have been sent to the spot.”
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram | Regarding the Wayanad landslide, Keralam minister T. Siddique says, “It is not a natural landslide, but a man-made landslide. This is a clear case of omission. Six people were seriously injured and hospitalized. Their condition is stable. We… pic.twitter.com/QMvHZIT7bD
– ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2026
He added, “The district collector is present at the spot. I am going to this place along with State Minister A.P. Anil Kumar. The Konkan Railways had earlier been directed to take necessary action in this regard, but they did not take any action. Such things cannot be tolerated because two years ago, 298 people died in a landslide in Mundakkai.”
IMD has issued a red alert for Wayanad.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a red alert for Wayanad district in Kerala after Mananthavady and Vythiri recorded heavy rainfall and a landslide hit the Kallady tunnel construction site around 11 am.
Neighboring Kozhikode district was also on a red alert, while Malappuram, Kannur and Kasaragod were on an orange alert.
According to official data, Mananthavady received 64 mm of rain during the day, while Vythiri received 123 mm. The weather department defines a red warning as extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 204mm in 24 hours, while an orange warning means rainfall between 115mm and 204mm. A yellow alert is issued when rainfall amounts are expected between 64mm and 115mm.
Wayanad’s long history of landslides
Landslides have repeatedly caused problems in Wayanad in the past and several fatal incidents have occurred in the area over the past decades.
The most devastating incident in recent times occurred on July 30, 2024, when massive landslides hit Wayanad. Most of the victims were sleeping when the landslides struck between 1:30 and 4:00 am.
The landslide covered an area of 86,000 square meters and the summit was located at approximately 1,550 meters above mean sea level (MSL). The mudflow stretched for about 8 kilometers. According to official data, 298 people died as a result of the disaster.
The history of landslides in Wayanad goes back several decades. Notable incidents included the Mundakkai mudslide in 1984, which killed 14 people and destroyed prime agricultural land. In 1992, the Kappikkalam landslide near Padinjarethara killed 11 people. Another major incident, the Valamtoda landslide on June 23, 2007, resulted in the death of four people.
Why is Wayanad very vulnerable?
Wayanad, a landlocked region in Kerala, is part of the Western Ghats and is considered one of the most landslide-prone regions in the state.
Almost 17,000 square kilometers of land in Kerala, mostly along the western side of the Western Ghats, has been mapped as landslide-prone. Studies have shown that Wayanad is the most landslide-prone district in Kerala.
The district is located at the southern tip of the Deccan Plateau and is part of the Western Ghats mountain range. Apart from landslides, Wayanad is vulnerable to various natural disasters and is categorized as Zone III, a moderate damage risk zone for earthquakes.
The hill ranges bordering Wayanad, Malappuram and Kozhikode districts are particularly prone to landslides. The Wayanad-Kozhikode boundary has also been identified by the Center for Earth Science Studies (CESS) as one of the most landslide-prone areas in Kerala.