Wayanad (Kerala) | The Kerala government on Friday assured a detailed probe into the Kalladi landslide in Wayanad and said stringent action would be taken if any lapses were found, even as it asserted that any decision on the tunnel road project would be based solely on public safety.
After visiting the landslide site, Public Works Minister P K Basheer said the government was treating the incident with utmost seriousness as protection of human lives remained its top priority.
He said construction work at the project site had already been suspended and the Konkan Railway Corporation had been directed to carry out all construction-related activities only after ensuring adequate safety measures.
"If any lapse is found, the government will take strict action against those responsible. A detailed investigation will be launched immediately, and appropriate follow-up action will be taken after a comprehensive study," the minister said.
Meanwhile, Revenue Minister A P Anilkumar said the government would await the findings of an expert panel before arriving at any conclusions on the cause of the tragedy.
He criticised the opposition for blaming the government before the expert committee submitted its report and said any decision on the proposed tunnel road project would be taken only after giving paramount importance to public safety.
Anilkumar said search operations had been intensified at the landslide site, with an additional rescue team that had earlier participated in rescue efforts at Chooralmala expected to join the operation. An NDRF team was also continuing searches in the nearby river, he added.
The minister said the government would seek expert opinion before deciding on the removal of the debris, as there were concerns that clearing the accumulated soil could trigger further landslides.
A landslide occurred on July 7 at the site of the Anakkompoyil Meppadi tunnel project, which is intended to connect Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.
One more body was recovered from the Wayanad landslide site on Friday, taking the total number of persons killed in the disaster to seven, district officials said.
Till Thursday, six bodies were recovered from the site of the landslide.
