Chamoli Tunnel Accident: Tragedy struck Uttarakhand‘s Chamoli district on Thursday evening when a massive volume of water and debris suddenly rushed into the Tail Race Tunnel of the under-construction Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project, being built by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC) near Pipalkoti on the Alaknanda River. Officials said the workers were engaged in welding reinforcement bars when a landslide near the Birhi River sent water and debris pouring into the passage, trapping around 28 workers inside.
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Death Toll Rises As Rescue Continues
As rescue teams worked through the night, the toll climbed steadily. Of the roughly 22 workers evacuated so far, nine have died, while 11 remain under treatment at the district hospital in Gopeshwar and one has been shifted to a hospital in Srinagar for more advanced care. NDRF team commander Amrit Lal Meena said water levels inside the tunnel kept rising even after rescue crews arrived, complicating recovery efforts, with a machine loader reportedly getting stuck and damaged during the operation.
Workers Recall “Terrifying” Moments
Survivors described chaotic scenes as the water surged in without warning. One rescued worker said the flood felt like “a wave of terror,” with several others suffering fractures and injuries in the scramble to escape.
Officials Monitor Rescue Operation
Chamoli Tunnel Accident: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been personally monitoring the rescue effort and directed officials to deploy all available resources on a war footing. He has also spoken with the chief ministers of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh regarding workers from those states who were among those trapped. NDRF, SDRF, and specialised Garhwal Scouts teams, along with a dog squad, remain deployed at the site as the search for the remaining workers continues.
