Thiruvananthapuram/Wayanad, July 7 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Tuesday held an emergency meeting with Agriculture Minister T. Siddique, who hails from Wayanad, following reports of a mudslide at the Wayanad end of the Anakkampoyil–Kalladi tunnel road project.

The Chief Minister directed that rescue and relief operations be coordinated on a war footing and instructed Revenue Minister A.P. Anil Kumar and Agriculture Minister Siddique to proceed to Wayanad immediately to oversee the rescue efforts.

The incident occurred near Meenakshi Bridge at Kalladi, close to the tunnel construction site.

Preliminary information suggests the mudslide was worsened by huge mounds of excavated earth that had been stacked at the construction site.

Following incessant heavy rain over the past 24 hours, the loose soil gave way and came crashing down, burying parts of the work site.

According to reports from the scene, three people have been rescued so far and shifted to safety.

However, authorities suspect that more workers and visitors could still be trapped as rescue personnel continue the search.

The area is also a popular tourist stop, and a number of private vehicles were parked nearby when the mudslide occurred.

A bus used to transport construction workers to the project site was also parked in the area and is feared to have been buried.

Fire and Rescue Services personnel, police and other emergency agencies have launched rescue operations, while a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has been rushed to the site to reinforce the effort.

The incident comes after Meppadi recorded an exceptionally high 226 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours.

While the heavy rain is believed to have triggered the mudslide, officials are yet to determine the exact sequence of events.

The number of people trapped and the full extent of the damage are yet to be officially confirmed as rescue operations continue.

–IANS

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