Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan announced an ex gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to the families of those killed in the tragedy. The government will bear the treatment cost of the injured, the Chief Minister said.

The rescue operation, led by a 60-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) with support from the police, Fire and Rescue Services personnel, and volunteers, continued with the aid of heavy earthmoving machinery to clear the massive mound of debris. Cadaver dogs were also deployed to help locate those believed to be trapped beneath the debris. However, heavy rain and inclement weather hampered the rescue efforts, slowing the removal of debris and posing challenges to rescuers.

Speaking to reporters today after a review meeting at Kalpetta, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said the government’s priority was to trace the missing people.

“The search in Zone I and Zone II has been completed, but the missing people could not be located. The search operation has now been extended to Zone III and will continue through the night. It is expected to be completed by Thursday morning. If required, a search will also be carried out in the river on Thursday morning,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that of the 10 injured, three had been admitted to the intensive care unit of a private hospital, with two in a serious condition. Four others remain in hospital wards, while the remaining three have been discharged.

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Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday (July 8, 2026) visited the disaster-stricken locations at Kalladi, near Meppadi in Wayanad district and personally evaluated the ongoing rescue operations to streamline immediate relief and rehabilitation measures.

From left to right, Kalpetta MLA and Agriculture Minister, T. Siddique, CM V.D. Satheesan and Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar visiting the area affected by the debris slip.

Photo: Special Arrangement

Chief Minister is proceeding to Wayanad Institute of Medical Sciences (WIMS) along with the Ministers after a 10-minute interaction with the relief camp members.

He is expected to meet around 10 rescued people in the hospital. Later, he will attend a review meeting at the Wayanad Collectorate.

- Mitosh Joseph

Kerala Ministers T. Siddique and A.P. Anilkumar today directed the Wayanad district administration to provide essential items to people living in areas surrounding the site where a landslide on July 7 claimed three lives.

The Ministers also directed the police and forest authorities to ensure that residents of the various tribal colonies in the area are shifted to safer places, according to a statement issued by the district administration.

They directed the district medical officer to urgently set up a health sub-centre equipped with doctors, nurses, and medicines to provide medical services to families isolated in Chooralmala.

The directions were issued following a review meeting held by the Ministers in Wayanad.

-PTI

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has reviewed the progress of the rescue operations at the spot of disaster at Kalladi in Meppadi panchayat. He will soon interact with the persons accommodated in a relief camp located 2 km from the spot. Agriculture Minister T. Siddique and Revenue Minister A.P. Anilkumar are also with the Chief Minister, who will soon visit WIMS Hospital to meet 10 persons who were rescued from the accident spot

- Mithosh Joseph

Following the debris slip at the Wayanad tunnel road project site at Kalladi, at least 93 people from 33 families living in nearby areas were shifted to a relief camp set up at the Government Polytechnic College, Meppadi. Officials said the camp was accommodating 27 men, 32 women, and 34 children.

Meanwhile, Ministers A.P. Anil Kumar and T. Siddique on Wednesday directed officials to step up relief and disaster management measures in the wake of the tragedy. 

- Sam Paul A.

A view of a site struck by the debris slip as search and rescue operations continue

Photo: K. Ragesh 

CPI(M) leader P A Mohamed Riyas has said “this is not the time for a blame game” over the Wayanad tunnel project tragedy and called for a coordinated response by the Kerala government to ensure rescue operations continue effectively.

Speaking to reporters before leaving for Kalladi, Mr. Riyas said that Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Ministers should exercise restraint while making public statements on such incidents. “Realising the importance of the positions they hold, the statements made and the stand taken should reflect that responsibility. This is not the time to speak about lapses. But the statements made by Mr. Satheesan, Ministers, and UDF leaders have forced us to respond,” he said. - PTI

Kerala Ministers T. Siddique and A.P. Anilkumar on Wednesday said that a scientific examination would have to be carried out to determine the actual reasons for the debris slip in Wayanad, while making it clear that no one responsible for it would be able to “wash their hands off” the incident.

Mr. Siddique and Mr. Anilkumar, who reached Wayanad to coordinate the search and rescue efforts, told reporters that the current focus was on searching for those missing in the incident. They said that a scientific examination would have to be carried out to identify the various factors that might have caused the debris slip at the tunnel road construction site near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi. The Ministers, however, said that the views expressed by them so far regarding the incident were only “preliminary opinions.” - PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday spoke to Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan over the phone and assured the State of the Centre’s full support in connection with the Wayanad debris slip. 

According to the Chief Minister’s Office, Mr. Shah enquired about the disaster and assured the Chief Minister of all possible assistance from the Centre. The Home Minister also expressed satisfaction with the rescue and relief operations carried out by the Kerala government so far. - PTI

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has said the government will carry out a detailed examination to know the reasons behind the Wayanad debris slip. He said it would also be examined whether the directives issued by the Central government while giving environment clearance to the tunnel project have been adhered to by the construction company. The work on the tunnel, which will connect Wayanad with Kozhikode, will restart only after these two examinations are completed, Mr. Satheesan said at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram

He said the decision to carry out the examinations was taken in a Cabinet meeting chaired by him in the morning after reviewing the reports related to the incident. The CM said the Cabinet has also decided to take all legal and technical steps required to find out the reasons for the incident. - PTI