Last missing worker found in Wayanad tunnel landslide; death toll rises to 8

Bengaluru: Rescue teams on Sunday recovered the body of the last missing worker from the landslide at the Wayanad tunnel project, taking the death toll to eight and bringing a six-day search operation to a close, officials said.

The deceased was identified as Vikram Rana, 58, a construction manager from Himachal Pradesh. His body was recovered from beneath twisted steel debris near Meenakshi Bridge.

The landslide occurred on July 7 at the Anakkampoyil-Meppadi twin-tube tunnel project, which is being built to improve connectivity between Wayanad and neighbouring Kozhikode district.


Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) led the search operation. Three bodies were recovered on the first day, while the remaining victims were found over the following days.

Rana's body was taken to Vythiri Taluk Hospital for a post-mortem examination before being shifted to Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital for embalming ahead of its transportation to his native place, officials said.

Police said the agencies involved would formally conclude the search operation after completing procedural formalities. Officials added that work to clear debris and restore the landslide-hit stretch would begin shortly.