Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday visited the Pipalkoti area in Chamoli district to take stock of the ongoing relief and rescue operations at an under-construction tunnel of a hydroelectric project, where seven workers were killed after water and debris suddenly gushed into the tunnel on Thursday evening.
The incident occurred at the Tail Race Tunnel (TRT) of the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project, being built by THDC India Ltd.
According to officials, landslides and ground subsidence caused debris and water to enter the tunnel, filling nearly half of the three-kilometre-long passage and trapping workers inside.
District Disaster Management Officer N K Joshi said 22 people were inside the tunnel at the time of the incident. Nineteen people were brought out overnight, including seven who died, while three workers remain missing, he said.
“Several workers trapped in the tunnel had been safely rescued just yesterday. Rescue operations are continuing on a war footing to safely evacuate the remaining trapped workers. While reviewing the progress and challenges of the operation on the ground, I directed the officials to ensure that there are no lapses at any level in the rescue efforts and that all available resources are utilised to their full capacity. Evacuating every worker safely is our topmost priority,” CM Dhami said in a post on X.
“Instructions have been issued to ensure the provision of the best possible medical facilities to the injured workers admitted to the hospital, along with every possible assistance for their treatment, medicines and other essential needs. I extend my deepest condolences to the families of those workers who lost their lives in this tragic accident. I pray to God that He grant a place to the departed souls at His sacred feet and bestow strength upon the bereaved families to bear this immense sorrow,” he added.
The injured workers were taken to Gopeshwar District Hospital. Six rescue personnel entered the tunnel, which remains partially filled with water, as efforts continued to locate the missing workers.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and police are carrying out the rescue operation.
(with inputs from agencies)
