Deeply saddened by tragic loss of lives at tunnel collapse in Chamoli: Rajnath Singh prays for safe rescue of trapped workers
New Delhi, August 14
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday expressed grief over the loss of lives in the tunnel collapse at a hydroelectric project site in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district and prayed for the safe rescue of those still trapped.
The accident occurred after debris and water entered an under-construction tunnel of the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC)'s Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project in the Pipalkoti area in Chamoli on Thursday, trapping 22 workers inside. According to the administration, seven people have died in the incident, while 19 of the 22 workers trapped inside the tunnel have been rescued. The injured workers are undergoing treatment at the District Hospital in Gopeshwar. The rescue operations to trace three missing people remained challenging on Friday as a large portion of the tunnel was inundated with water and sludge.
"Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives due to Tunnel collapse at a hydroelectric project site in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families who have lost their loved ones. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured and for the safe rescue of those who are still trapped," Rajnath Singh said in a post shared on X.
The rescue operation is being carried out jointly by multiple agencies, including the NDRF, SDRF, DDRF and ITBP, with teams conducting manual searches inside the flooded section of the tunnel.
NDRF Assistant Commandant Alok Jayara said the search operation was continuing and teams were working in shifts.
"The situation that prevailed around 5:30 AM this morning remains the same even now. We are searching for three missing people. Our teams are making continuous efforts. We have three teams on the spot that are carrying out rotational operations," Jayara said.
Jayara said the flooded section, spread across around 900 metres, was making the search difficult due to water, sludge and poor visibility.
"This is a very large area, approximately 900 metres, which is filled with water, and there is also sludge beneath the water. Due to this, conducting a search operation in that 900-metre area is proving difficult," he said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the accident and announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh each for the next of kin of the workers who died.
"Every life is precious to us," Dhami said, adding that action would be taken against those found responsible for any negligence.
Badrinath MLA Lakhpat Butola has also raised questions over safety arrangements at the construction site and sought higher compensation for the victims' families.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Praying for the safe rescue of the remaining workers. 🙏 The NDRF and other agencies are doing a great job under such difficult conditions. 900 meters of flooded tunnel with sludge and poor visibility - that's extremely challenging. I hope the three missing workers are found soon. Also appreciate CM Dhami ordering a magisterial inquiry. We need answers and accountability.
This is truly heartbreaking. My thoughts are with the workers and their families. The fact that 19 out of 22 have been rescued is a testament to the bravery and dedication of the rescue teams. But we must ask - how many more such incidents need to happen before we prioritize worker safety infrastructure in India? The compensation should be more substantial given the risks these workers take every day.
Very tragic incident. These workers are the backbone of our infrastructure development - they work in dangerous conditions so that we can have electricity and better connectivity. The least we can do is ensure their safety and provide proper compensation to their families. Rajnath Singh ji's message shows the government cares, but we need concrete action, not just condolences. Praying for those still trapped. 🙏
It's so sad to see this happen. I visited Uttarakhand last year and saw how difficult the terrain is for such projects. The rescue teams are working in extremely tough conditions - 900 meters of water-filled tunnel is no joke. But we also need to question the safety protocols at these sites. Badrinath MLA has rightly raised concerns. I hope the missing workers are found alive. Om Shanti to those who lost their lives. 🕯️
D We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.