'Water and wind came like a storm': Rescued workers recount terrifying THDC tunnel accident
Chamoli, August 14
Workers rescued from the THDC tunnel in Chamoli's Pipalkoti described the terrifying moments after water and strong winds suddenly entered the tunnel, throwing several workers outside and leaving them struggling to escape.
Seven people were declared dead after being rescued from an under-construction tunnel of the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC) at Pipalkoti in Chamoli district, where several workers were trapped after water and debris entered the tunnel, officials said on Friday.
The workers who were rescued from the tunnel were brought to the District Hospital in Gopeshwar for treatment. A total of 19 people were brought to the hospital, of whom seven were declared dead.
One of the rescued workers, Vabil Gude from Jharkhand, described the incident as terrifying and said it happened suddenly after water entered the area.
"The scene was very terrifying, like... as if a wave of terror came from that direction. It happened so suddenly... anyway, because of the water, we moved forward here," Gude told ANI.
Another worker, Nister Bhengra, said water and wind came at high speed, throwing the workers outside. He said that after the water slowed down, they gradually made their way out and encountered an engineer along the way.
"Water and wind came very fast. After that, we were all thrown outside. Then the water slowed down a bit. Then we gradually got out. No one came. Then on the way, there was an engineer. He came. There were 15-20 people," Bhengra said.
Prem Singh, another worker, said water entered with the force of a storm, leaving them unable to do anything.
"In the hand, in the leg. Water came with such high speed like a storm and we couldn't do anything about it," Singh said.
Vinod Raman said around 20-22 people may have been inside at the time of the incident.
"The scene was very terrifying. All of a sudden, wind and then water came, filling everything inside the tunnel. After that, we didn't know anything. About 14-15 people. There could be a total of 20-22. My leg is fractured. Yes, the family knows," he said.
"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.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The way these workers described the incident - "water and wind came like a storm" - it's terrifying to even imagine. These are our fellow Indians working in tough conditions in remote areas. We need better safety measures and timely rescue operations. NDRF and SDRF teams are doing their best, but prevention is always better than cure.
Sad incident, but let's also appreciate the rescue teams who worked day and night. The NDRF and SDRF personnel risk their own lives to save others. Also glad to see that the hospital in Gopeshwar quickly admitted the injured and referred the critical patient to Srinagar. Good coordination during crisis.
Chamoli has seen so many disasters in recent years - avalanches, flash floods, and now this. The terrain is very challenging, but that doesn't mean we compromise on worker safety. THDC must be held accountable. My condolences to the bereaved families. We need a thorough investigation.
Reading this gives me chills. These workers were trapped in darkness with water rushing in - it's like a nightmare. The fact that one worker said "we didn't know anything" shows how sudden it was. I hope the remaining trapped workers are rescued soon. Sending prayers to everyone involved. 🙏
While it's tragic, I also want to point out that geological surveys before starting such tunnel projects are crucial. The Himalayas are geologically unstable. We see such incidents repeatedly. Hope the authorities do a proper study before starting any such projects in future. Strict safety audits should be mandatory.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.