Uttarakhand: 7 dead in Chamoli tunnel accident
At least seven workers were confirmed dead and three were reported under debris after water gushed inside a tunnel under construction at a hydroelectric project site in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. According to officials, 22 workers were trapped inside the three-kilometre tunnel when the water rushed in around 7 pm on Thursday, according to the Chamoli district disaster management officer N K Joshi.
The disaster at THDC India Limited’s Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydroelectric project in Mayapur (Pipalkoti) occurred after landslides and subsidence caused debris and water to fill half of the tunnel, trapping the workers inside. According to the State Emergency Operations Centre on Friday, 19 workers were pulled out of the tunnel during relief and rescue operation, which continued throughout Thursday night. Of these, seven people were dead, and 12 others were injured. A search is underway for the remaining three workers, who authorities suspect are trapped 1.8 kilometres inside the tunnel. Authorities have deployed machines to remove debris and pump out water to reach the missing workers, even as the continuous rainfall is rendering the operation difficult.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Pipalkoti on Friday and reviewed the relief and rescue operations.
He also visited the 12 injured workers admitted to a hospital in Chamoli.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), police, and other technical and specialist teams are engaged in the relief and rescue operation. Due to debris and water in the tunnel, the operation is being carried out with utmost caution and coordination.
Garhwal range Inspector General of Police Rajiv Swaroop said that difficulties are being faced in the rescue operation due to continuous rain, but they are confident that the operation will be successful.
The district magistrate, along with Garhwal MP Anil Baluni, is monitoring the rescue operation at the site. The DM has directed officials to ensure the effective use of all necessary resources and technical assistance to search for the missing people.
