Seven workers have died and three others remain missing after water and debris suddenly flooded an under-construction tunnel at a hydroelectric project in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, officials said on Friday.
The incident took place on Thursday at the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project in the Mayapur area near Pipalkoti. A landslide and ground subsidence reportedly caused a sudden inflow of water and debris into the tunnel, trapping workers inside.
District Disaster Management Officer N K Joshi said 22 workers were inside the tunnel when the incident occurred. Nineteen workers were rescued during the overnight operation, while seven workers were later confirmed dead. The search for three missing workers is continuing.
Rescue operations are being carried out by multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), police and other emergency teams. Rescue personnel are working inside difficult conditions as water continues to remain a major obstacle.
Officials said the tunnel was filled with a large amount of water and debris, making it difficult for rescuers to reach the areas where the missing workers may be trapped. Six rescue personnel have entered the tunnel as part of the ongoing operation, while teams outside are supporting the effort.
The deceased have been identified as Pradeep Singh Pawar of Tehri, Mukesh of Chamoli, Durlabh Sharma of Bihar, Vijay Hansda and Jitendra Kumar of Jharkhand, along with Lokeshwar and Bhuneshwar, whose native places were yet to be confirmed in the latest official information. Injured workers were taken to Gopeshwar District Hospital for treatment.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has been monitoring the rescue operation and reviewing the situation at the site. Authorities have mobilised additional resources to locate the three missing workers as quickly as possible.
The accident has once again highlighted the risks involved in large infrastructure projects in Uttarakhand’s fragile Himalayan terrain, where landslides, heavy rainfall and difficult geological conditions can pose serious challenges to construction and rescue operations. The priority remains the search for the three missing workers and ensuring medical care for those who survived the tragedy.
