CM Dhami takes charge of Chamoli tunnel rescue; 16 workers brought out safely
Dehradun, Aug 13
Upon receiving news late Thursday night of an incident involving the accumulation of debris and water in a THDC tunnel under construction at Mayapur in Chamoli district, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami immediately arrived at the State Disaster Operations Centre in Dehradun.
Taking personal command of the entire relief and rescue operation from there, he directed officials to conduct the mission on a war footing. From the Disaster Operations Centre, the Chief Minister interacted directly with the rescued workers through video conferencing to inquire about their well‑being and boost their morale. He assured them that the state government stands firmly with them and that proper arrangements would be made for their medical treatment and rehabilitation.
Dhami maintained constant contact with senior officials from the Chamoli district administration, the SDRF, the NDRF, the ITBP, the Army, and other relevant agencies. He issued necessary directives while staying updated on the situation minute by minute. He gave clear instructions that rescuing every person trapped in the tunnel safely was the top priority and that no laxity in the rescue operations would be tolerated.
According to the latest information, 22 individuals were reported trapped in the tunnel. Of these, 16 have been safely rescued, while efforts to bring the remaining workers out continue.
The Chief Minister spoke to Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar over the phone to obtain detailed information about the relief and rescue efforts and instructed him to ensure all necessary arrangements were made immediately. He also spoke to the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, directing that the best possible medical facilities be provided to the injured without any shortcomings. He further instructed that critically injured persons be referred to AIIMS or other advanced medical institutions via helicopter service if required.
CM Dhami said that the state government is keeping a close watch on the entire situation and that the relief and rescue operation will continue with full force and coordination until everyone is safely brought out.
District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar is personally present at the incident site, overseeing the rescue operation. Teams from the district administration, police, SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, the Army and other concerned agencies are jointly engaged in the rescue work on a war footing. The administration has also immediately made the necessary resources, machinery, and medical facilities available on site to support the ongoing efforts.
Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman and all other concerned officials were present at the meeting.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is what leadership looks like — being at the Disaster Operations Centre at night, talking to the rescued workers personally, and making sure AIIMS is on standby if needed. And District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar being present at the site shows the whole bureaucracy is on its toes. Well done, Uttarakhand government. 🚨
Good to see the CM personally monitoring this, but can we also ask a hard question? Why are workers still being sent into tunnels with such obvious risks? Every year we see these incidents in Uttarakhand and Himachal. We need better safety audits and contractor accountability, not just reactive rescue missions.
The CM and DM working together in coordination with NDRF, SDRF, ITBP and Army — this is textbook coordination. And the fact that 16 out of 22 are already out is a huge relief. Praying for the remaining 6 workers. 🙏 Rescue teams are the real heroes here, not the politicians. They risk their lives to save others.
Appreciate the CM's quick response and clear directives — "no laxity in rescue operations" is the right tone. But the bigger issue is that we've had multiple tunnel collapses in this region in the last few years. Why isn't there a strict geological risk assessment and proper safety standards before construction starts? Until then, we'll keep cheering rescue efforts, but we shouldn't have to.
Just saw the news — CM Dhami personally interacting with workers through video call and telling them proper arrangements will be made for medical treatment and rehabilitation. This is the kind of personal touch that gives people faith in governance
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.