A landslide struck a tunnel road project site at Kalladi near Meppady in Kerala's Wayanad district on Tuesday, triggering fears that several people may be trapped under the debris, officials said.
The incident occurred near Meenakshi Bridge, where work on the Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel project connecting Malappuram and Wayanad districts is under way.
Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Kalpetta rushed to the spot after the landslide. Search and rescue operations are being carried out by teams from the Fire and Rescue Services, police and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Officials said local residents rescued three people from the site, where workers associated with the tunnel project were staying. The affected area also has a few houses and homestays.
Minister T Siddique and the Wayanad District Collector are overseeing the rescue efforts and verifying whether more people remain trapped.
The Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel project, which aims to improve connectivity between Malappuram and Wayanad districts, commenced last year.
The incident comes nearly two years after the devastating landslides that struck Wayanad in July 2024, when torrential rain triggered multiple slope failures in the Meppadi region, killing more than 400 people, leaving scores missing and causing widespread destruction in villages such as Chooralmala and Mundakkai.
The disaster was among the deadliest landslides in Kerala's history.
