Kerala HC Orders Immediate Relief as Wayanad Tunnel Landslide Death Toll Rises to Seven

The Kerala High Court has directed the state government to immediately provide compensation to the families of those killed and ensure free treatment for the injured after the death toll in the Wayanad tunnel road landslide rose to seven. One person remains missing, with rescue operations continuing at the accident site.

The incident occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, where work on the Anakkompoyil–Meppadi tunnel road project linking Wayanad and Kozhikode districts was underway when a massive mudslide struck on July 7.

Death Toll Reaches Seven

Authorities recovered another body on Friday, taking the confirmed death toll to seven. Rescue teams are continuing search operations for one missing person despite difficult terrain and slushy conditions.

The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) informed the High Court that heavy machinery is being used wherever possible, while manual searches are continuing in unstable areas.

What the Kerala High Court Said

Hearing the matter on Friday, a Division Bench comprising Justice A.K. Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice A.K. Preeta directed the state government to prioritise relief measures over questions of liability.

The court ordered:

• Immediate disbursal of ex gratia compensation to victims' families.
• Free medical treatment for all injured persons, with the state bearing all hospital expenses until discharge.
• Expenses of attendants accompanying injured victims should also be covered.
• Bodies of those killed should be handed over to their families without delay after post-mortem procedures.

The Bench observed that questions regarding who would ultimately bear the financial responsibility could be decided later.


Court Seeks Status Report

The High Court asked the state government to submit a fresh status report next week and said it would continue monitoring the case on a weekly basis, focusing on compensation, rehabilitation and the progress of the investigation.

The matter forms part of the court's continuing suo motu proceedings initiated after the devastating 2024 Wayanad landslides, with the latest tunnel tragedy now brought under judicial scrutiny.

Construction Had Already Been Halted

The court was informed that construction activity at the project site had been ordered to stop in May, before the latest landslide occurred.

Meanwhile, the Kerala government has announced a high-level expert probe into the project as political and administrative scrutiny over the incident continues.

2024 Wayanad Landslide

The latest accident comes less than two years after Kerala witnessed one of its worst natural disasters.

On July 30, 2024, massive landslides devastated Wayanad district, causing widespread destruction across several kilometres. The death toll from landslides rose to 344.

The disaster caused an estimated loss of around ₹1,200 crore and triggered one of the largest rescue operations in the state's history.