Wayanad (Kerala) | A major landslide was reported at Kalladi near Meppady in Wayanad on Tuesday, with apprehensions that some people may be trapped under the debris, Fire and Rescue Services officials said.
According to officials, the landslide occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, where work on a tunnel road project connecting Malappuram and Wayanad districts was underway.
Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Kalpetta rushed to the spot, and search operations will start soon.
Officials said local residents rescued three persons from the site, where workers associated with the tunnel project were staying.
There are also a few houses and homestays in the area, they added.
Apart from that, a few vehicles that transport tunnel employees were damaged in the landslide.
Police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have also been deployed for the rescue operation.
Minister T Siddique and the District Collector are coordinating the search efforts and verifying whether more people are trapped in the affected area, officials said. PTI TBA The work for Anakkompoyil-Meppadi started last year, connecting Malappuram and Wayanad districts
Wayanad landslide video: Eyewitness urges people to ''run fast'' as mound of mud comes down .
'Run fast friends', are the words heard in the background of the shocking visuals of a huge mound of mud sliding down onto the road and bridge near Kalladi here as several people, including women, attempt to outrun the landslide.
"Run fast friends. Take a photo," the eyewitness could be heard saying in the brief video clip, aired on TV channels, shot from beyond the bridge.
The clip shows the mound of mud, accumulated near the Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi as part of an ongoing tunnel road project connecting Malappuram and Wayanad districts, suddenly sliding down due to the rain, bringing down trees and blowing away the metal and cloth barricades set up at the construction site.
The mudslide spilt onto the road as the video showed several people, including women, running for their lives.
Subsequent visuals showed the bridge and surrounding area completely covered by huge layers of mud as rescue personnel attempted to ascertain whether people were trapped underneath it.
Police and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have also been deployed for the rescue operation.
The work for Anakkompoyil-Meppadi started last year, connecting Malappuram and Wayanad district