Tragic Tunnel Incident in Uttarakhand Claims Lives of Seven Workers
Fatal Incident in Chamoli District
Screengrab image shows NDRF and SDRF conducting search operation after sudden influx of water and debris entered an under construction tunnel in Chamoli, Uttarakhand
(Source: X)
Chamoli, Aug 14: Officials reported that at least seven individuals lost their lives and many others sustained injuries when a sudden surge of water and debris flooded an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Friday.
The victims have been named as Pradeep Singh Pawar, Mukesh, Durlabh Singh, Vijay, Jitendra Kumar, Lokeshwar, and Bhuneshwar.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is set to visit the site of the tunnel disaster to oversee the ongoing rescue and relief efforts. He plans to evaluate the situation firsthand and engage with the officials involved in the rescue operations.
During his visit, the Chief Minister will also meet with the injured at the Gopeshwar District Hospital to check on their condition and review the medical care being provided. Later, he is expected to attend a 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' event at Premnagar Ashram in Haridwar around 12:30 p.m.
According to the State Disaster Management Authority, 13 workers have been successfully rescued so far.
At the time of the incident, approximately 25 workers were on-site at the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd (THDC) project in Pipalkoti when the unexpected influx of water occurred. The powerful currents, along with debris, caused chaos, sweeping several workers toward the tunnel's exit.
Local MLA Lakhpat Butola described the event as a profound tragedy, emphasizing that the administration is fully committed to the rescue operation.
"This is a deeply tragic incident. The entire administrative team and all my colleagues have reached the spot, and our priority is to provide every possible support to those engaged in the rescue efforts," he stated.
Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar noted that a significant amount of water and debris surged into the tunnel around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday while construction activities were ongoing.
Chief Minister Dhami has instructed officials to conduct rescue and relief operations with urgency and has been closely monitoring the situation through real-time updates from senior officers.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are actively engaged in search operations under challenging conditions to find the trapped workers.
This incident occurred during a period of heavy rainfall in the district. Earlier this week, rising river levels in Chamoli's Niti Valley resulted in the destruction of a bridge, showcasing the severe effects of ongoing monsoon conditions in the area. A video captured the moment when a torrent of water mixed with mud obliterated the metal structure in seconds.