Seven Dead, One Missing: Search Continues at Wayanad Tunnel Project Site

A massive multi-agency search operation entered its sixth day on Sunday to trace the lone person still missing after the July 7 landslide at the Anakkampoyil–Meppadi tunnel project in Kalladi, Wayanad .

The landslide, which struck the tunnel project connecting Wayanad and Kozhikode districts , has claimed seven lives , with Vikram Rana , a construction manager from Himachal Pradesh , still unaccounted for.

Speaking to reporters, Kerala Agriculture Minister T Siddique said search efforts were being carried out along the Meenachil River by teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) , Special Operations Group (SOG), Fire and Rescue Services, the Rapid Response Team, Forest Department, and youth volunteer organisations.

The river stretch from the landslide site to downstream areas has been divided into sectors, with dedicated teams searching both banks. Authorities believe the missing worker's body may be trapped beneath debris, rocks, or boulders , prompting simultaneous searches across all identified locations.

Officials are also examining CCTV footage, other video recordings, and eyewitness accounts from workers to identify areas requiring focused searches. Parallel operations are underway near an upstream pond where iron rods and other debris accumulated after the landslide, as the missing worker was last seen in that vicinity.

The minister said an expert team is expected to arrive at the site soon to study the disaster and assess the affected area.

Meanwhile, traffic restrictions remain in force on the Meppadi–Chooralmala road from 8 a.m. to noon to facilitate the ongoing rescue and search operations.