Chamoli Tunnel Collapse: Eight Workers Dead, Two Still Missing

Rescue operations continued Saturday at the under-construction THDC tunnel at Mayapur (Pipalkoti) in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, where the body of another worker was recovered, raising the death toll to eight.

Officials stated that search efforts are ongoing for the two remaining missing workers. Suction pumps and other equipment are being used to facilitate the movement of rescue personnel inside the tunnel and to reach areas where the missing workers may be trapped, according to Chamoli district magistrate Gaurav Kumar. Teams from the district administration, police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are coordinating the operation.

The incident occurred on August 13 when water and debris entered the tunnel at the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydroelectric project, trapping workers. Of the 22 workers on shift, 19 were initially brought out; seven were declared dead at the district hospital in Gopeshwar, and 12 were admitted with injuries. One injured worker was referred to the Base Hospital at Srinagar (Pauri Garhwal).