Wayanad landslide: Body believed to be missing engineer found as search operation nears end

Rescue teams searching the site of the Wayanad landslide have recovered one more body, which is believed to be that of the last missing engineer. The body was found during a large search operation on Sunday, bringing the death toll in the tragedy to eight.

Officials said the body is suspected to be that of Vikram Rana, a 58-year-old construction manager from Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh. He had been working at the Anakkampoyil–Meppadi tunnel project when the landslide struck on July 7.

Although officials believe the body is his, they said the identity will be confirmed only after completing all official procedures, including a post-mortem examination and identification process.

The recovery has brought some closure to the rescue operation, as Rana was the last person reported missing after the disaster.

Massive search operation continues

The landslide took place at the construction site of the Anakkampoyil–Meppadi tunnel project in Wayanad district, Kerala. The tunnel is an important infrastructure project planned to improve road connectivity between Wayanad and Kozhikode districts.

Since the day of the landslide, rescue teams have been searching continuously for those trapped or missing under the debris.

After five days of searching without finding the missing engineer, authorities launched an even larger operation on Sunday.

According to police, the body was discovered around 350 metres downstream from Meenachil Bridge at about 11:30 a.m. during a search along the river.

The body was located after rescue teams carefully searched different parts of the river and nearby areas.

Following the recovery, the body was sent to a government hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Police said official identification will be completed after all required legal and medical procedures are finished.

The large search operation involved several rescue agencies working together.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Special Operations Group (SOG), Fire and Rescue Services, Rapid Response Team, Forest Department, local police and youth volunteer organisations all participated in the operation.

Each team was given specific areas to search so that no location would be missed.

Authorities review rescue efforts

Kerala Agriculture Minister T. Siddique said the search was carefully planned by dividing the entire area into different sectors.

The stretch from the landslide site to the downstream areas of the Meenakshi River was divided into sections, with separate rescue teams assigned to each one.

Search teams also checked both riverbanks while continuing their efforts.

Officials said they studied CCTV footage and other available videos from the construction site to understand how the landslide happened and where the missing engineer might have been carried.

The NDRF and police examined the footage and identified certain locations that required detailed searches.

These findings helped rescue teams focus their efforts on the most likely areas.

The minister also said that an expert team is expected to arrive soon to study the landslide site.

The experts will examine the reasons behind the disaster and supervise the safe removal of the large amount of soil and debris that accumulated after the landslide.

Removing the debris is important before road-clearing work and further construction activities can begin.

Because of the rescue operation, traffic restrictions have been placed on the Meppadi–Chooralmala Road.

Officials said vehicles are not allowed on parts of the road between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon to allow rescue workers to carry out their work safely.

Meanwhile, Kerala State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar visited the landslide site to review the rescue operation and the ongoing police investigation.

He also met Agriculture Minister Siddique to discuss the progress of the search.

Police officials said that after consulting all the departments involved, a final decision will be taken on when to officially conclude the search operation.

They added that work to remove the landslide debris and restore the damaged road will begin soon after the rescue efforts are completed.

The July 7 landslide has deeply affected the families of those who lost their lives while also highlighting the risks faced by workers at major infrastructure projects in hilly regions during the monsoon season.

Heavy rainfall often increases the chances of landslides in parts of Kerala, making rescue operations difficult and dangerous.

The recovery of the final missing person is expected to bring some relief to the families waiting for answers since the disaster.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident to understand the exact cause of the landslide and determine whether any additional safety measures are needed at the construction site.

As rescue operations come to an end, attention will now shift towards clearing the affected area, restoring road access and reviewing safety practices to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.