The body of engineer Vikram Rana, who had been missing since a massive landslide struck a tunnel construction site in Wayanad district of Kerala on July 7, was recovered after a six-day search. The discovery brought an end to days of anxious waiting for his family and the entire Sarela village in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh.
According to the original news report, a pall of gloom descended on Sarela village in Takoli-Ghirthan gram panchayat of Fatehpur subdivision on Sunday after news arrived that Rana's body had been found. The 58-year-old engineer had been trapped and missing since the landslide hit the site.
Family's six-day wait ends in tragedy
Rana's family members said they had not cooked food at home during the entire six-day period, as they prayed for his safe return. The entire gram panchayat has been left in shock following his untimely demise.
According to Promod Rana and Kulwant Rana, brothers of the deceased who have been stationed at the landslide site since the incident, the family had been hoping for a miracle. The news of the body's recovery has left the village grieving.
Search operation details
The multi-agency search operation had been ongoing for six days, with rescue teams working to locate Rana, who was the only person missing after the July 7 landslide. The operation involved coordinated efforts from various agencies at the tunnel construction site in Wayanad.
According to India Today, the multi-agency search had entered its sixth day with Vikram Rana being the only person still missing after the landslide.
Background of the incident
The landslide at the tunnel construction site in Wayanad had initially left several workers trapped. Rescue teams had been working tirelessly to recover bodies and search for the missing. Earlier reports had mentioned that two persons were missing — Rakesh Guchait, a surveyor from West Bengal, and Vikram Rana, a construction manager from Himachal Pradesh.
According to Press Trust of India, one more body was recovered from the Wayanad landslide site on Friday, with the two missing persons being Rakesh Guchait and Vikram Rana.
Our Take: A tragedy that highlights worker safety
The death of Vikram Rana is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by workers at construction sites in challenging terrains like Wayanad. While rescue teams did their best, the six-day wait for the family must have been agonizing. In our view, this tragedy underscores the need for stricter safety protocols at tunnel and construction projects in landslide-prone areas. The loss of a life is not just a statistic — it is a family's world shattered. Our thoughts are with Rana's family and the entire Sarela village.
Sources & References
- India Today — Multi-agency search enters Day 6 for Vikram Rana
- Press Trust of India — Body recovered, two missing including Vikram Rana
- The Tribune — Himachal engineer missing after Wayanad landslide
