Uttarakhand Chamoli Tunnel Collapse: 18 Workers Rescued, 4 Still Trapped; Rescue Ops Underway

Chamoli: A rescue operation is underway at an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district after debris and water unexpectedly entered the structure on Thursday, trapping around 20 workers. The accident occurred in the Pipalkoti area, where the tunnel is being built by Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), a subsidiary of Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited.

The tragedy prompted a quick response from the local government, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and other organizations. Rescue personnel are attempting to access the section of the tunnel where workers are trapped.

18 workers brought out safely, search for others continues

So far, 18 personnel have been successfully evacuated from the tunnel. Those who were rescued are being brought to Gopeshwar's District Hospital for medical evaluation and treatment, according to Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar.

Rescue personnel are currently on the scene, working to evacuate the remaining workers. Despite the debris and water that have entered the tunnel, teams are working to ensure safe access to the impacted portion. Officials have not provided any additional information regarding what triggered the unexpected entry of debris and water. The first objective is to reach out to everyone who is still trapped and securely evacuate them.

CM Dhami orders rescue effort on war footing

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami assessed the situation and urged officials to increase relief and rescue efforts. When it became evident how bad the incident was, NDRF and SDRF teams were dispatched to the scene.

Dhami directed the district administration and other departments involved in the operation to work closely together to guarantee no delays in rescue efforts. The Chief Minister stated that he was in close communication with senior officials and received information on the operation. He emphasized that rescuing every person trapped inside was the government's top priority and urged officials to deploy all available resources and support affected workers and their families.

Expressing concern over the incident, Dhami prayed for the safety of those still inside the tunnel. He said, "I pray to God for the safety of all the people. The state government is closely monitoring the situation with complete sensitivity and promptness, and every possible step is being taken as required."

CM Dhami speaks to Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh CMs

CM Dhami also spoke with the Chief Ministers of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh via phone about the workers trapped in the tunnel. He notified them about the scenario affecting personnel from their various states, as well as the Uttarakhand government's rescue operations.

The Chief Minister informed them that the administration had acted swiftly and that rescue activities were being carried out on a war footing. So far, 18 workers have been rescued, and attempts are still underway to locate those who remain trapped.

The rescue operation at the site is still ongoing, with assistance from the district administration, SDRF, NDRF, and other authorities. Authorities are focusing on getting to the affected part of the tunnel and securely evacuating all remaining workers. Further information on the circumstances that led to the accident is expected as the operation progresses.