Uttarakhand Chamoli Tunnel Collapse: 7 Workers Killed, 3 Still Trapped; Rescue Ops Underway

Chamoli: At least seven workers have died after a massive landslide caused debris and water to accumulate inside an under-construction tunnel of the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC) at Mayapur near Pipalkoti in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, officials said.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening inside the Tail Race Tunnel (TRT) of the under-construction Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project on the Alaknanda River. The workers were reportedly engaged in welding reinforcement bars when the landslide caused a large quantity of debris and water to enter the tunnel, trapping several workers inside.

According to the latest information, 28 workers were trapped following the incident. Rescue teams have so far managed to evacuate 22 workers, of whom nine have died.

Of the rescued workers, 11 are undergoing treatment at the District Hospital, while one worker has been admitted to Vivekananda Charitable Hospital in Pipalkoti. Another worker has been referred to a higher medical facility for further treatment. The search for the remaining three workers trapped inside the tunnel is continuing.

NDRF and SDRF teams have been carrying out rescue operations at the site. Officials said the operation has been challenging due to the large volume of water and debris inside the tunnel.

Earlier, officials had said that around 20-22 workers were inside the tunnel when the accident occurred. NDRF team commander Amrit Lal Meena said a substantial quantity of water had entered the tunnel after the rescue teams reached the site, with water also seeping in from the sides.

Rescue personnel used specialised equipment to enter the affected section and recover workers and bodies. The operation is continuing with teams working to locate and evacuate those still trapped.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke with the Chief Ministers of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh over the phone regarding the condition of workers from the two states who were affected by the tunnel accident.

Dhami informed the two Chief Ministers that the Uttarakhand government had immediately launched relief and rescue operations on a war footing. He assured them that all possible assistance was being extended to the affected workers and their families.

The Chief Minister said medical facilities had been provided to the rescued workers and that arrangements for specialised treatment, medicines, accommodation, food and other necessities were being made as required. He also assured that workers requiring treatment at higher medical institutions would be referred accordingly.

Dhami said the Uttarakhand government was maintaining constant coordination with the governments of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh and sharing all necessary information regarding the affected workers.

He emphasised that the safety of human life remained the government's top priority and said the entire state government machinery was working with utmost urgency to ensure the rescue, treatment and assistance of those affected.

The rescue operation remains underway, with teams continuing efforts to locate and safely retrieve the six workers who are still believed to be trapped inside the tunnel.

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