18 rescued so far from under-construction hydropower tunnel in Chamoli; NDRF and SDRF lead race to reach those still trapped
A sudden landslide triggered a massive rush of debris and water into an under-construction hydropower tunnel near Pipalkoti in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Thursday evening, trapping 22 workers inside, officials said.
The incident occurred at the tunnel being built for the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project, operated by THDC India. According to officials, the landslide caused a sudden influx of mud, rocks and water into the tunnel while workers were on duty.
The debris entered the nearly 3-km-long tail-race tunnel at a point around 1.5 km from its entrance, making access difficult for rescue teams.
Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said the surge occurred around 6:30-6:45 pm. Police later placed the time of the incident at around 7:05 pm, when 22 workers were inside.
Rescue teams have managed to evacuate 18 workers so far, while operations remain underway to locate and rescue those still trapped. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), along with heavy machinery and other resources, have been deployed at the site.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed officials to conduct the rescue operation on a “war footing”. He said the government’s immediate priority was to ensure that every trapped worker was safely evacuated.
Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman instructed all agencies to work in close coordination and deploy additional resources and specialist teams wherever required.
Officials said rescue operations were being closely monitored as teams worked through the debris and water-filled section of the tunnel.
The incident has once again highlighted the risks faced by workers involved in major infrastructure and hydropower projects in Uttarakhand’s mountainous terrain, where landslides and sudden water movement can rapidly complicate rescue operations.
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