Continuous rain posing challenge to remove mud from Wayanad landslide site: PWD minister

Wayanad (Kerala), Jul 9 (PTI) Kerala Public Works Department (PWD) Minister P K Basheer on Thursday said that the continuous rain was posing a challenge to remove mud from the landslide site. Basheer, speaking to reporters after visiting the landslide site and assessing the search operations, said that removing the mud from there in the current situation was more dangerous. He further claimed that the construction company had been told several times, including more recently on July 1, to remove the soil piled up at the construction site, but it took the stand that there was no problem. The minister said that further action will be taken following an investigation into the disaster, adding that the permissions granted for the construction will also be examined. Meanwhile, state Agriculture Minister T Siddique said that the landslide at the tunnel construction site will not create any travel problems for people going to Chooralmala. A landslide occurred on July 7 at the site of the Anakkompoyil-Meppadi tunnel project for connecting Wayanad and Kozhikode districts. Four people were killed in the disaster and four more persons remain missing. He also said that arrangements will be made to provide medical facilities, including doctors, nurses and medicines to the people of Chooralmala and if the rains continue, steps will be taken to provide special rations to those in the area. For this, the district collector has been instructed to prepare a list of people living in the area, Siddique said. PTI HMP KH