The mudslide at Kalladi in Kerala’s Wayanad district, which killed three people and left five others missing on Tuesday, has brought renewed scrutiny to the controversial Wayanad twin tunnel project, with environmentalists demanding the state government to halt the work and order independent geological, hydrological and social studies of the impact before it goes ahead.
The disaster occurred near the site of the dual tunnel road project linking Meppadi in Wayanad district and Anakampoil in Kozhikode district. A video showed the mound of mud that had accumulated near Meenakshi Bridge suddenly collapsing in the rain, toppling trees, sweeping away more than half a dozen vehicles, and crushing several makeshift labor camps, a nearby house and a church. Follow the live weather blog
Officials familiar with the matter said that the deceased, all the workers involved in the tunnel construction work, have been identified as Anmol Gorai from Jharkhand, Vikas Kumar Singh from Bihar, and Chandrabhan Pal from Madhya Pradesh.
Also read: Rainfall in parts of Delhi-NCR, red alert issued for capital
“An Unfortunate Tragedy”: CM Sathisan
CM VD Satheesan said the landslide occurred after a large amount of debris accumulated during excavation work slid down the hill amid heavy monsoon rains.
“The district collector and the Disaster Management Authority asked them (project contractors) to remove the rubble as per an order issued on June 20. But the contractors failed to remove the rubble. There has been heavy rains in the area, which has affected the ongoing rescue operations. It is an unfortunate tragedy,” Sathisean told reporters.
The Prime Minister also pointed out lapses on the part of contractors. He said: “All safety protocols must be adhered to during the implementation of such projects. The disaster here indicates the inaction of the project contractors.”
Read also: The missing link was found and lost within 48 hours of heavy rain
Agriculture Minister Taddiq described the accident as the result of “unscientific debris dumping.”
Environmental activists argue against the project
The incident has reinforced calls by environmental activists who have long opposed the tunnel project, arguing that it involves digging through one of the most vulnerable stretches of the Western Ghats and passing through at least 14 hotspots in an Ecologically Sensitive Zone (ESZ).
“The mudslide is a warning signal for the tunnel project and for such developmental activities in Wayanad. The project was given a green signal without proper and reliable geological and hydrological studies being conducted. The phenomenon of soil pipes, which can lead to landslides in the monsoon, has been observed in this area,” writer and activist CR Neelakandan said.
“Therefore, the state government must order such studies by specialized and independent agencies before resuming work on the tunnels,” he said. The project includes the construction of an 8.11 km long double-tube tunnel between Mebadi and Anakambwele. Designed in 2020, it aims to provide an all-weather alternative route to Wayanad and reduce traffic pressure on the heavily congested Tamarassery Ghat road, which is also prone to landslides during monsoons.
According to environmental groups, tunneling through fragile hills in the Western Ghats could loosen soil, destabilize slopes, increase the risk of landslides, and impact wildlife movement, especially elephant movement. Environmental observer Sridhar Radhakrishnan described the project as “not a symbol of progress, but a potential engineering disaster.”
Also Read: Aberrant rainfall in July reduces monsoon deficit | Number theory
“The state government must urgently revoke the recommendation of the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) and the environmental clearance made by the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). It must ask an independent expert committee to conduct a comprehensive environmental and social impact study. The SEIAA approval was not based on scientific evidence. It was politically motivated. It ignored previous studies and warnings crucial to granting approval for the project.”
Dilip Buildcon Limited, which won the tunnel contract, said it was extending its “full cooperation” to the district administration in relief and investigation operations. The company said the project is being implemented “in compliance with all engineering, safety and environmental approvals and protocols.”
