Tragic Tunnel Incident Claims Lives of Seven Workers in Uttarakhand

A tragic accident at a hydroelectric project site in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district has resulted in the deaths of seven workers. Water inundated a construction tunnel, trapping the workers inside. While 19 were rescued, three remain missing, prompting ongoing search efforts. The Chief Minister has arrived to oversee the rescue operations, as authorities mobilize resources to locate the missing individuals. This incident highlights the dangers faced by workers in construction projects, especially in challenging terrains.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 14, 2026, 11:34 IST

Fatal Incident at Hydroelectric Project

Gopeshwar (Uttarakhand): A tragic incident occurred at a hydroelectric project site in Chamoli district, resulting in the deaths of seven workers when water surged into an under-construction tunnel, officials reported on Friday.

Rescue operations are currently focused on locating three individuals who remain unaccounted for.

The disaster struck at the Mayapur (Pipalkoti) tunnel, where landslides and ground subsidence led to debris and water inundating half of the tunnel, trapping the workers inside.

According to N K Joshi, the District Disaster Management Officer, there were 22 workers present in the tunnel during the incident on Thursday.

Of those, 19 were successfully rescued overnight, while seven tragically lost their lives, and efforts continue to find the three missing individuals.

The deceased have been identified as Pradeep Singh Pawar from Tehri, Mukesh from Chamoli, Durlabh Sharma from Bihar, and Vijay and Jitendra Kumar from Jharkhand, along with Lokeshwar and Bhuneshwar, whose hometowns are still unknown.

Injured workers have been transported to Gopeshwar District Hospital for treatment.

Six rescue personnel have entered the tunnel, which remains filled with water.

Rescue efforts are being conducted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and local police.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami arrived by helicopter at Pipalkoti to oversee the rescue operations.

District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar, present at the scene, has called for all necessary resources to be mobilized to assist in locating the missing workers.