DEHRADUN: Seven workers were killed after a landslide triggered a massive surge of water and debris into an under-construction tunnel of the 444-MW Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Thursday evening.
Twenty-two workers were trapped inside the tunnel near Mayapur in the Pipalkoti area after the incident around 7 pm. Twelve workers have so far been rescued, while efforts are continuing to locate and evacuate the remaining three.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), assisted by the district administration and police, are carrying out the rescue operation. The sudden ingress of water and debris has complicated efforts to establish safe access to the trapped workers.
The deceased were identified as Pradeep Singh Panwar, 31, of Tehri district, and Mukesh of Chamoli district, both in Uttarakhand; Durlabh Sharma of Bihar; Vijay, 28, and Jitendra Kumar of Jharkhand; and Lokeshwar and Bhuneshwar.
Several workers were also injured and taken to Vivekananda Hospital in Pipalkoti for treatment. Two of the injured reportedly sustained serious injuries, including fractures. Six ambulances were deployed for the rescue and evacuation operation.
Preliminary reports indicate that excavation work was underway inside the tunnel when workers heard a loud sound, followed by a powerful surge of water and debris that blocked a section of the passage. Officials suspect water seepage and a landslide may have triggered the incident, though the exact cause will be established after an investigation.
The tunnel is being constructed for THDC India Limited, with Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) executing the work.
Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar confirmed the casualties and said the rescue operation would continue until the last worker was located. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed all agencies to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing.
Dhami also spoke to the chief ministers of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh and briefed them about workers from their respective states. He assured them that the Uttarakhand government was making every effort to locate the missing worker and provide medical assistance to those rescued.
The project is being built on the Alaknanda river, with the accident occurring in a construction area linked to its headrace tunnel.
The incident has revived memories of the November 2023 Silkyara tunnel collapse in Uttarkashi, where 41 workers remained trapped for 17 days before being rescued in a multi-agency operation.
