Police register case, launch probe into Wayanad landslide

Wayanad (Kerala), Jul 7 (PTI) Police on Tuesday registered a case and launched an investigation into the landslide at Kalladi in Wayanad district that claimed three lives and left several others missing, officials said. The Meppady police registered a case of unnatural death on their own following the incident and initiated an investigation. According to the FIR, the landslide occurred between 11 am and 11.30 am near Meenakshi Bridge, where work on the road tunnel project was under way. The FIR stated that earth from the upper portion of the tunnel slope collapsed, triggering the landslide. As the case was registered around 2 pm, the FIR recorded two deaths, eight injuries and several persons missing. However, the death toll later rose to three as rescue operations continued. Police officials at the Meppady police station said post-mortem examinations of the recovered bodies would be conducted at the government hospital. They said the relatives of the deceased had been informed and that the construction agency would make further arrangements. Officials said the police, in coordination with the district administration and disaster management authorities, would conduct a detailed investigation into the incident. PTI TBA SSK