Uttarakhand: Seven dead as water, debris enter tunnel in Chamoli
Chamoli, August 14
Seven people were declared dead out of the 19 people rescued and brought to the District Hospital in Gopeshwar from an under-construction tunnel of the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited at Pipalkoti in Chamoli, where several workers were trapped after water and debris entered the tunnel, officials said on Friday.
"A total of 19 people were brought here from THDC; seven of them have been declared dead at the hospital, while 13 arrived in relatively stable condition. We have admitted 10 of them. One young man, whose condition was somewhat unstable, has been referred to the Base Hospital in Srinagar," Dr Aayush told reporters.
Rescue operations by NDRF and SDRF teams are underway to evacuate the remaining workers trapped inside the tunnel. Officials initially said 18 workers were rescued and shifted to the district hospital for treatment. NDRF team commander Amrit Lal Meena said a large volume of water had entered the tunnel when the rescue team reached the site, with water also seeping in from the sides.
"After our team arrived and started the operation, there was a massive volume of water inside the tunnel. The water level has risen significantly since then. Our personnel, using specialised equipment, have recovered four bodies from the water so far. The rescue operation is still underway and will continue until everyone is retrieved," Meena told ANI on Thursday.
THDC Executive Director (Projects) Kumar Sharad said around 20 to 22 workers were present inside the tunnel when the accident occurred.
He said NDRF and SDRF teams were deployed for the rescue operation, and 18 workers had been rescued so far and shifted to the district hospital for treatment. Three to four of the rescued workers are in serious condition, he said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is heartbreaking. The NDRF and SDRF are doing a heroic job in such dangerous conditions. Why is there no safety protocol for workers in these projects? Every life matters. Government should investigate how water entered the tunnel so suddenly.
Praying for all the workers and their families. This is a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by infrastructure workers. Credit to the rescue teams for their bravery and swift action. Hopefully everyone else is found safe.
Many such accidents happen due to lack of proper risk assessment before and during construction. I hope the authorities provide compensation to the families and take strict measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Such a tragic event, my sincere condolences. It's good to see the quick deployment of rescue teams. Praying for the safe recovery of all the workers. 🙏
This is really concerning. Our workers risk their lives for development projects. Are safety audits being done regularly? We need better standards and strict enforcement. Respect for all the rescue professionals risking their own lives out there.
Terrible incident. Continuous prayers for the missing workers and their families. It's a tough terrain for construction, and we must remember these workers while demanding better safety measures from companies.