Water, Debris Enter Under Construction Tunnel in Chamoli, At Least 7 Dead

At least seven workers have died and 14 others were injured after a tunnel at the THDC Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project in Pipalkoti, Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, was hit by a sudden flow of mud, debris and water.

The incident occurred while workers were carrying out construction work inside the tunnel. Around 22 workers were reportedly present when the accident took place. Rescue teams have been working to evacuate those trapped inside, while one worker is still reported missing.

Mud And Water Rushed Into Tunnel

According to Chamoli Superintendent of Police Surjit Singh Pawar, the incident occurred between around 6.30 pm and 6.45 pm. A large quantity of mud, debris and water reportedly entered the tunnel from a cavity located around 1.5 to 1.8 km from its main entrance.

Teams from the NDRF and SDRF have been deployed at the site. Heavy machinery is being used to clear the debris, while three large pumps have been installed to drain water from the tunnel.

However, the rising level of mud and water has hampered the rescue operation, with the operation temporarily affected by the conditions inside the tunnel.

14 Injured, Several In Serious Condition

The injured workers were shifted to Gopeshwar District Hospital for treatment. According to officials, around three to four of the injured workers are in serious condition, while arrangements have been made to provide advanced medical treatment if required.

Officials said the deceased included workers from Uttarakhand, Bihar and Jharkhand, while most of the injured workers are from Jharkhand, Bihar and Chhattisgarh. One injured worker each is reportedly from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

CM Reviews Rescue Operation

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a high-level meeting at the State Emergency Operations Centre to review the situation.

Dhami said the government's immediate priority was to ensure that every trapped worker was brought out safely. Senior officials have been deployed at the site to monitor the rescue operation.

Heavy Rain Adds To Rescue Challenges

Chamoli has witnessed heavy and sudden rainfall in recent days. Torrential rain earlier this week caused flooding-like conditions in the Tamak Nala, while a newly constructed iron bridge built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) was reportedly washed away by the strong water flow.

The mountainous terrain and sudden rise in water levels in streams and rivulets have further complicated rescue and relief operations in the region.