Koodammal and her husband Balakumar are reeling from the shock of witnessing a landslide firsthand at the tunnel road construction site in Meppadi, Wayanad, while also feeling relieved at having miraculously escaped. The couple had been waiting for a bus to Meppadi.
Koodammal says she managed to escape because she saw the soil collapsing from above and was able to run. She said that tunnel construction workers were present at the site, but there was no one else at the bus stop. She added that she fell down while running and, when she looked up, found herself underneath a lorry.
"I ran when I saw the landslide coming. I was standing at the bus stop. There were many people working there; we were estate workers, while the others were tunnel construction workers."
"We had come to Meppadi. ​​We were looking upwards when we saw the soil coming down, so we ran. It was sheer luck that we survived. We were on leave yesterday and today; we had stepped out to visit the bank and buy supplies from the shop. A mound of soil had been dumped near our house, and we were worried about it. That soil is still lying there. We had informed the authorities," both said with relief and the shock of having to witness a tragedy.
In the footage that shows the shocking visuals of the landslide, it is visible how Koodammal and Balakumar were running and narrowly escaping.
