Wayanad(Kerala) | The Konkan Railway Corporation, which was given the overall contract for the Wayanad-Kozhikode tunnel construction, on Friday claimed that the July 7 landslide occurred around 200 meters away from the excavated area and not where the slope was protected as per the approved design and drawings.

As the landslide occurred from a height of over 100 meters above the tunnel crown, the elevation difference caused a huge pressure on the downward portions of the protected slope and in a single move, nearby trees were uprooted, and the soil was swept away, a note released by Konkan Railway claimed.

It further claimed that the soil and muck accumulated at the site was stable, but "the landslide debris flow was so sudden" that the persons present there got trapped in it.

It said that since the work was already stopped due to the onset of monsoon from mid-June and no tunnelling work was going on, only the technical staff was present at the site in the morning to monitor any slope movement in the area where the excavated soil was deposited.

Konkan Railway also contended that the portal slope near the tunnel was stable during the excavation and construction period and "all construction works were carried out in accordance with the approved drawings, specifications, and engineering practices".

"Necessary temporary supports, drainage arrangements, and slope protection measures had been implemented before the incident," it claimed.

The explanation from Konkan Railway comes amidst allegations that soil accumulated at the project site was not removed despite repeated directions of the authorities, and it led to an increase in the intensity of the landslide.

The landslide occurred on July 7 at the site of the Anakkompoyil Meppadi tunnel project, which is intended to connect the Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.

Seven persons have been killed in the disaster, and one is still missing.