Meppadi landslide: Five remain missing as rescue operation faces heavy rain threat

Kalladi (Kerala): Rescue efforts to trace five people missing after the Kalladi landslide near Meppadi in Kerala's Wayanad district continued late into Tuesday night, but the operation is likely to face fresh disruption as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rainfall in the district over the next two days.

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Rescue Services, police and Civil Defence volunteers remained engaged in the search despite challenging conditions. Rescue teams from Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur districts, along with the Kannur KAP IV police unit, were also deployed.

The restoration of electricity by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), which had been disrupted by the landslide, enabled search operations to continue after dark. However, massive boulders carried downhill by the landslide hampered access to several areas.

Earthmovers were pressed into service to clear debris, but intermittent rain and fast-flowing water repeatedly interrupted the operation. Officials said further heavy rainfall could make rescue efforts even more difficult.

People stranded at resorts and tourist destinations in Thollayiramkandi returned home on Tuesday night after authorities cleared mud that had blocked a bridge, restoring road access to the area.

Search split into four zones

Kerala Minister T. Siddique said the government's immediate priority was to rescue those affected and locate the missing.

After visiting injured victims undergoing treatment at Dr Moopen's Medical College Hospital in Meppadi, he said the search operation would be divided into four zones to improve coordination and coverage.

A 66-member NDRF team, supported by Fire and Rescue Services, police and Civil Defence volunteers, has been deployed for the operation.

The minister said the state government would arrange to transport the bodies of those who died to their native places by air, with family members accompanying them. He added that road connectivity damaged by the landslide would be restored on an emergency basis and additional machinery would be brought in to speed up the work.

Minister A.P. Anilkumar said the immediate focus remained on tracing the missing people, adding that the causes of the landslide would be examined later.

The ministers inspected the disaster site before meeting the injured at the hospital and later chaired a review meeting.

MLA Usha Vijayan, District Panchayat President Chandrika Krishnan, District Collector D.R. Meghashree, DIG K. Karthik and District Police Chief S. Devamanohar also attended the meeting.

IMD issues yellow alert for Wayanad

The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall across several parts of Kerala on Wednesday, raising concerns that adverse weather could further affect rescue operations in Wayanad.

Yellow alerts have been issued for Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts. The warning will continue on Thursday for Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod.

The weather agency has also warned of high waves and the possibility of sea erosion along the coasts of Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod until 11.30 pm on Wednesday.

Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea along the Kerala, Karnataka and Lakshadweep coasts until Thursday.