Uttarakhand CM Dhami visits Gopeshwar hospital to meet injured workers, reviews Chamoli tunnel rescue
Chmaoli, August 14
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday visited the District Hospital in Gopeshwar to meet workers injured in the Chamoli tunnel accident, enquire about their well-being and review the medical arrangements being made for their treatment.
During his visit, Dhami interacted with the injured workers and took updates on their condition. He directed the medical teams to ensure that there was no lapse in treatment and that all necessary medical care was provided to those rescued from the tunnel.
The Chief Minister's hospital visit came after he inspected the accident site at Mayapur in Pipalkoti, where debris and water entered an under-construction tunnel of THDC's Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project, trapping 22 people inside.
The injured workers rescued from the tunnel were brought to the District Hospital in Gopeshwar for treatment. Health Department teams and doctors are providing medical care and continuously monitoring their condition.
Dhami also directed officials to ensure that the families of those affected by the incident receive necessary assistance and that all arrangements at the accident site remain in place while the rescue operation continues.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister reached the accident site at Mayapur and conducted an on-ground inspection of the ongoing relief and rescue operation. He interacted with officials and personnel from the various agencies deployed at the site and took detailed updates on the progress of the operation. Dhami also entered the tunnel to assess the situation and received information from the rescue teams working inside the affected structure.
According to the district administration, 19 of the 22 people trapped inside the tunnel had been rescued so far, while efforts were continuing to evacuate the remaining three people.
The TRT tunnel of THDC's Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project is around three kilometres long. Officials said ground subsidence occurred along a stretch of around 1.50 kilometres, following which debris and water entered the tunnel, creating challenging conditions for the rescue operation.
District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar briefed the Chief Minister about the incident, the rescue operations carried out so far and the arrangements at the site.
During the inspection, Dhami directed officials to accord the highest priority to the safe evacuation of the remaining three workers. He instructed the authorities to make effective use of all available resources and technical expertise and maintain close coordination among the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), police and other teams involved in the operation.
The Chief Minister stressed that every possible effort must be made to rescue the remaining workers safely. The rescue operation continues as multiple agencies work jointly to clear debris, assess the affected section and reach the workers still trapped inside.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see the CM taking direct interest in the rescue ops and ensuring medical care for the injured. The NDRF, SDRF, and ITBP teams are doing a fantastic job in tough conditions. These workers are the backbone of our infrastructure projects, and they deserve the best care.
This is a serious wake-up call for authorities to inspect all under-construction tunnels in our mountainous regions. Safety protocols need a thorough review. Glad the CM is on-site, but we need long-term preventive measures too.
Praying for the safe rescue of the 3 workers still trapped inside. The courage and commitment of our rescue teams in such challenging conditions is truly commendable. Let's hope the operation succeeds soon. 🇮🇳
While the response from the CM and agencies is appreciated, we must ask: how did ground subsidence compromise such a critical structure in the first place? We owe these workers not just a rescue but a guarantee of safety on every future project.
Great to see CM Dhami personally entering the tunnel to assess the situation. That's leadership by example. The coordination between NDRF, ITBP, and SDRF under such stress is exemplary. Let's hold on to this spirit of unity in crisis. 💪
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