Search teams entered the sixth day of operations on Sunday to locate Vikram Rana, the sole missing construction manager after a landslide at a Kerala tunnel site on July 7. The disaster at the Anakkampoyil-Meppadi project has claimed seven lives.
Multi-agency effort along Meenachil River
Kerala Agriculture Minister T Siddique confirmed that teams from the NDRF, Special Operations Group, Fire and Rescue Services, Rapid Response Team, Forest Department, and youth volunteers are conducting a sector-by-sector search. The operation spans the landslide site to downstream stretches of the Meenachil River, with both riverbanks under examination.
Authorities stated the body may be trapped under debris or rocks, prompting a comprehensive search across all identified zones. Teams are also reviewing CCTV footage and worker accounts to pinpoint high-probability areas, including an upstream pond where iron rods and other debris accumulated.
Targeted searches and traffic restrictions
NDRF and police have analyzed video evidence to direct efforts, with a focus on the area where Rana was last seen. The minister added that an expert team will soon assess the disaster site.
Traffic on the Meppadi-Chooralmala road is restricted between 8 am and noon to aid the search. The operation continues as authorities work to recover the final missing worker from the Wayanad landslide.
