Rain Slows Down Rescue Work In Wayanad As Landslide Death Toll Reaches Five

Rescue teams continued searching for three missing people in Wayanad on Thursday after two more bodies were recovered from the landslide site, taking the death toll to five, according to reports.

State Agriculture Minister T. Siddique, who is present at the site, said the bodies have been shifted to a hospital.

The landslide occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, where work on the Wayanad end of the tunnel road project is currently underway.

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue Services, police, forest department and local volunteers remained at the site, using excavators and earth-moving machines to remove mud and large boulders.

Intermittent rainfall and unstable ground conditions have continued to make the rescue operation difficult.

Government Reviews The Situation

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan visited the disaster site on Wednesday evening after reviewing the situation and instructed officials to continue the rescue mission without interruption. He also asked authorities to provide all possible support to the affected families.

The state government has directed officials to closely monitor vulnerable locations across the district as rainfall continues.

Opposition Leader Visits Site

Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan reached the landslide site on Thursday morning along with CPI(M) State Secretary M.V. Govindan. The leaders met rescue personnel and local residents to assess the situation.

According to reports, Vijayan had visited the same location nearly two months ago as Chief Minister to inaugurate work on the proposed tunnel road project.

Search Enters Crucial Phase

Rescue teams are continuing efforts to trace the three missing people despite difficult weather conditions.

Authorities have also advised residents living in landslide-prone areas to remain alert and follow evacuation advisories issued by the district administration as heavy rain persists across parts of Wayanad.