A massive mudslide triggered by torrential monsoon rains has struck the under-construction Wayanad tunnel road project site in Kerala, leaving at least eight people feared dead, one confirmed dead, seven missing, and seven hospitalized. The incident occurred near the entrance of the tunnel project linking Kozhikode to Wayanad on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
A major rescue operation is underway, with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with the local police and Fire and Rescue services actively engaged in the rescue efforts. The incident occurred close to a cluster of residential houses and holiday homestays, prompting the evacuation of nearby residents as a precaution.
According to eyewitnesses, a concrete retaining wall built to reinforce the hillside collapsed under the pressure of sudden heavy rainfall, sending a torrent of mud and debris onto the site. Several vehicles have been found crushed and buried, and officials are currently cross-referencing worker logs to determine the exact number of people unaccounted for.
Rescue efforts are being severely hampered by heavy rain and thick mud, which are complicating the use of earth-moving equipment. Wayanad District Collector D.R. Meghashree and other senior officials have arrived at the site to oversee the rescue operations. Two Ministers, A.P. Anil Kumar and T. Siddique, are also leaving for Wayanad immediately to assist in the relief efforts.
The India Meteorological Department had issued a red alert for Wayanad and Kozhikode districts on Tuesday, warning of extremely heavy rainfall. A yellow alert was in place in Wayanad on Monday, but the region received around 265 mm of rain in the 24 hours ending at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, classified as extremely heavy rainfall by the IMD.
All India Congress Committee general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the incident and appealed to United Democratic Front (UDF) workers, functionaries, and members of the public to extend all possible support while strictly following the administration’s guidelines.
