Six days before the Kerala government halted work at the Wayanad tunnel project, an internal geological report prepared by the project’s sub-contractor had reportedly warned that the slope above the tunnel’s north portal could fail at any moment under prevailing monsoon conditions.

The landslide struck the north portal of the under-construction tunnel in Wayanad on Tuesday, killing six people and raising serious questions over slope stability and safety measures at the site.

Report highlighted severe slope instability

According to the internal assessment prepared by Dilip Buildcon Limited (DBL), the sub-contractor handling the tunnel work, the hillside above the north portal had already begun showing signs of structural distress.

The report was jointly prepared by DBL senior geologist Raju Sagar, Geological Survey of India (GSI) official A. Ramesh Kumar and Authority Engineer Dr H.K. Singh from Turkish Engineering Consulting & Contracting.

The assessment covered inspections carried out between June 3 and June 11 at the north portal near Kalladi-Meppadi in Wayanad.

Engineers found that the slope consisted of nearly 35 metres of loose silty soil over hard rock. The report noted that this type of soil retains water during heavy rainfall, increasing its weight while reducing stability and making it vulnerable to landslides.

Despite slope protection measures including stepped cutting, shotcrete and soil nailing, engineers observed widening cracks, soil movement, muddy seepage and cavities developing within the slope.

Underground water flow raised major concerns

One of the report’s key findings was the presence of underground water flowing between two support levels inside the slope.

According to the assessment, such internal water movement could erode the soil from within, significantly weakening the hillside and increasing the likelihood of a sudden collapse.

The report specifically identified the left side of the north portal as carrying a much higher risk than the right slope and warned that, under existing rainfall conditions, it “may culminate in sudden slope failure at any time.”

Safety systems found to be inadequate

The report also pointed to shortcomings in the site’s safety infrastructure.

It found that several drainage holes designed to reduce water pressure inside the slope were either ineffective or not functioning properly on the high-risk section. It also noted that piezometers, which monitor underground water pressure and provide early warning of slope instability, had not yet been installed.

The assessment added that the existing monitoring equipment was not accurately reflecting the visible signs of distress observed at the site.

Blasting not identified as primary cause

Trial blasting for tunnel excavation was conducted on June 5, June 6 and June 11 while the slope was already showing signs of instability.

However, the report concluded that recorded blast vibrations remained within permissible limits and indicated that prolonged heavy rainfall, rather than blasting, was the primary factor behind the slope deterioration.

Engineers recommended multiple corrective measures

The internal assessment recommended several immediate measures to improve slope stability.

These included constructing gabion retaining walls along the vulnerable left slope, covering exposed soil with protective matting and tarpaulin, creating lined drainage channels to divert rainwater, and carrying out field tests to verify the effectiveness of existing soil nails and drainage systems under saturated conditions.

The report also expressed concern over the location of a nearby concrete batching plant, stating that its weight and heavy vehicle movement could further affect slope stability. It recommended relocating the facility away from the vulnerable area.

Contractor and project authorities respond

Project authorities said the report had primarily been commissioned to assess the impact of blasting activities.

An engineer associated with Konkan Railway Corporation reportedly said work at the north portal was stopped after the findings emerged.

The engineer maintained that shotcrete was used alongside 12-metre-long concrete anchor rods installed at two-metre intervals to strengthen the slope. He also claimed that the landslide occurring above the site would have been difficult to prevent through conventional safety measures.

When asked about monsoon preparedness and slope protection, project representatives said standard engineering practices had been followed. However, they did not provide a clear explanation regarding the status of gabion wall construction or whether there had been shortcomings in preparing the site for tunnel work.

The contractor also stated that delays in government land allocation for storing excavated soil affected project logistics.

Following the landslide, the engineer said nearly 200 workers at the project’s south portal left the site out of fear and that construction would not resume until an expert committee appointed by the Kerala government approved future safety measures.

The internal report was prepared days before the District Collector issued a stop-work order on June 20, indicating that work at the north portal had already been halted amid growing concerns over slope stability.

A late-night encounter between Gurugram Police and suspected gang members left four alleged criminals dead and three police personnel injured after an exchange of around 60 rounds of gunfire in the city’s Sushant Lok Phase-2 area on Thursday.

According to police, Crime Branch teams acted on intelligence about a suspicious Scorpio SUV carrying armed men. Multiple teams rushed to the area and established barricades after receiving the information.

Suspects allegedly targeted businessman facing extortion threats

Police said the suspects had allegedly opened fire at the residence of a businessman before officers reached the scene. The businessman had reportedly been receiving repeated extortion threats from a wanted gangster operating from abroad, making him a potential target of the attack.

Officers surrounded the vehicle and repeatedly asked the suspects to surrender. However, the accused allegedly opened indiscriminate fire on the police in an attempt to escape, prompting the police to retaliate.

Four accused killed, one undergoing treatment

According to police, all five alleged shooters linked to the foreign-based Deepak Nandal gang sustained bullet injuries during the exchange of fire.

They were taken to a private super-specialty hospital, where doctors declared four of them dead. The fifth accused remains hospitalised and is undergoing treatment.

Three police personnel injured during operation

The encounter also left three Gurugram Police personnel with gunshot injuries. They were shifted to a hospital for treatment, and doctors are closely monitoring their condition.

Forensic teams collect evidence

Police said teams from the Scene of Crime (SoC) unit, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), and other investigation units examined the encounter site and collected forensic and technical evidence.

Officials added that legal proceedings are underway. The identities of the deceased and injured accused, along with details of their criminal backgrounds, will be disclosed after verification. Police also said they recovered five foreign-made pistols from the suspects.

India and Australia have reaffirmed their growing partnership as Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded high-level talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Melbourne on Thursday. Later, addressing a gathering of around 30,000 members of the Indian community, PM Modi spoke about the close cultural bond shared by overseas Indians with their homeland while highlighting India’s economic and technological progress.

The bilateral meeting expanded the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with both countries announcing 18 outcomes covering areas such as defence, energy, trade and critical technologies.

PM Modi highlights Indian identity abroad

Welcoming the large turnout, PM Modi described the event as a “houseful” gathering and said he had been looking forward to meeting the Indian community in Melbourne after interacting with them twice earlier in Sydney.

Using a light-hearted example, he said that while many Indian families in Australia use Australian milk at home, the tea they prepare remains distinctly Indian. He added that even when vegetables and lentils are sourced locally, the authentic Indian flavour comes from Indian spices, reflecting how the community has preserved its cultural roots while contributing to Australia’s growth.

The Prime Minister also said many Indian families manage two time zones every day, with children following Australian schedules while grandparents in India wait to connect through video calls, showing how closely overseas Indians remain connected to their homeland.

India-Australia partnership continues to expand

Earlier in the day, PM Modi and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held wide-ranging discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

In a post on X after the meeting, PM Modi said the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership launched in 2022 has continued to expand and both countries have decided to accelerate work on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation framework.

The leaders announced 18 outcomes that further strengthen collaboration across defence, clean energy, trade, critical technologies and other strategic sectors.

PM Modi highlights India’s progress

During his address, PM Modi said India’s defence capabilities are gaining global recognition and referred to Operation Sindoor as an example of the country’s resolve against terrorism.

He also highlighted the success of the Make in India initiative, saying Indian-made mobile phones, electronics, automobiles and pharmaceutical products are reaching markets around the world.

Speaking about governance reforms, the Prime Minister said India has simplified public services through self-attestation and digital initiatives such as DigiLocker, allowing citizens to securely store, verify and share official documents online.

India’s global role and startup growth

PM Modi said India has earned international trust by extending humanitarian assistance without discrimination, adding that relief operations launched after the recent earthquake in Venezuela reflected India’s commitment to helping countries in times of crisis.

He also highlighted India’s emergence as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem and said an Indian space startup is preparing to launch a satellite using its own rocket for the first time.

Concluding his address, PM Modi said the India-Australia trade agreement continues to deliver benefits for both countries and expressed confidence that cooperation between New Delhi and Canberra will continue to deepen in the years ahead.