Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: 6 dead, 14 injured after water and debris trap workers in Chamoli — updates

Six people died and 14 others were injured on Thursday after water and debris entered an under-construction tunnel at a hydroelectric project site in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, officials said.

According to preliminary information shared by officials, 22 workers were trapped inside the tunnel at the time of the incident. Twenty workers have since been brought out.

Of those rescued, six were declared dead, while 14 others sustained injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Information about the remaining two workers was not immediately available.

Incident at Pipalkoti hydroelectric project

The accident occurred at the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) Limited’s project site in the Pipalkoti area. Construction work at the site is being carried out by Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), officials said.

Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan earlier told PTI that authorities received information about workers being trapped after water and debris entered the tunnel.

Police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and other agencies rushed to the site following the incident.

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team from Rudraprayag was also dispatched to Pipalkoti to assist with the rescue operation. Teams from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Army were deployed as well.

Efforts are continuing to evacuate the remaining workers. Police, the district administration, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and other agencies are involved in the rescue operation.

‘Topmost priority is to safely evacuate every person trapped’

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the government’s top priority was to ensure the safe evacuation of all workers trapped inside the tunnel.

After reaching the Disaster Operations Centre in Dehradun, Dhami stated he reviewed the progress of the rescue operation at the under-construction THDC tunnel in Mayapur (Pipalkoti) and issued necessary instructions to officials.

Dhami also spoke to the rescued workers over the phone to check on their condition and assured them of all possible assistance.

“Information has been received about debris and water entering the THDC tunnel located in Peepalkoti. Considering the seriousness of the incident, teams from @NDRFHQ and @uksdrf have been immediately dispatched to the site. Instructions have been issued to all relevant agencies, including the district administration, to carry out relief and rescue operations at a war footing,” Dhami said on X.

He added, “I myself am in constant contact with the officials and continuously gathering updates on the situation. Our topmost priority is to safely evacuate every person trapped inside the tunnel. I pray to God for the safe well-being of all.”

Disaster management and rehabilitation secretary reacts

Vinod Kumar Suman, secretary of disaster management and rehabilitation, stated all relevant agencies had been instructed to coordinate closely and speed up relief and rescue efforts to safely bring out those trapped inside the tunnel.

“The priority is to safely evacuate all the people trapped inside the tunnel,” Suman said, adding that more resources and specialised teams would be deployed if needed to bolster the rescue operation, as per HT.

Officials said the district administration and agencies involved in the rescue efforts were working together at the site to ensure a coordinated response.

Bailey Bridge washed away in Chamoli; BRO vehicle, driver missing

Meanwhile, a Bailey Bridge was swept away by a sudden surge of water at Tamak Nala in Chamoli district on Monday evening, disrupting connectivity along the Niti-Malari road. A Border Roads Organisation (BRO) vehicle and its driver are also reported missing, officials said, according to ANI.

Chamoli Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Vivek Prakash said the water level at Tamak Nala rose sharply around 5:30 pm, causing the bridge to collapse. He stated a search operation was underway, with State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams deployed to the site.

Hemant Soren speaks to Pushkar Dhami over Jharkhand workers

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami about labourers from Jharkhand who were allegedly trapped after water and debris entered an under-construction tunnel at a hydroelectric project in Chamoli district.

Soren said Dhami assured him that all possible efforts were being made to safely rescue the workers.

The Jharkhand chief minister said reports suggested that labourers from Khunti, Gumla and other districts were among those trapped inside the tunnel.

“In this regard, I spoke with the Honourable Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Shri @pushkardhami ji, over the phone. He has assured that every possible effort is being made to safely rescue all the labourers,” Soren said in a post on X.