New Delhi: A harrowing incident has been reported from Chamoli, Uttarakhand. Seven labourers died on the spot after being buried under debris when the under-construction DRT tunnel at an HCC site in the Pipalkoti area collapsed. Reports indicate that some labourers remain trapped. So far, 1 labourer has been rescued, and search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the others.
The incident reportedly occurred at 7 PM on Thursday. At that time, a massive amount of debris and water suddenly gushed out from a cavity inside the hydro-project tunnel, trapping the laborers working within. Upon receiving news of the accident, teams from the SDRF, NDRF, district administration, and disaster management arrived at the site and launched a rescue operation.
Rescue Operation Underway
The under-construction DRT tunnel in Chamoli’s Pipalkoti area collapsed, with reports stating that 22 people were buried under the debris. While the NDRF and SDRF have rescued 18 individuals, four others are reportedly still trapped.
Around 7 PM on Thursday, a large volume of debris and water suddenly burst forth from a cavity inside the hydro-project tunnel, trapping the workers inside. The rescue operation was halted overnight due to the accumulation of debris but has since resumed to locate the remaining individuals.
How the Accident Occurred
The incident took place between 6:30 PM and 6:45 PM on Thursday, when a massive quantity of debris and water suddenly surged from a cavity located approximately 1.8 kilometres inside the tunnel. The workers were trapped as this debris and water flooded the area, situated about 1.5 kilometres from the tunnel entrance.
Rescue teams have since been actively engaged in the operation. The accident occurred 1.8 kilometres deep within the project’s 3.5-kilometre-long tunnel, where gravity packing work was also in progress. It was reported that a massive explosion occurred inside, and heavy debris, along with water,r began flooding the tunnel. This caused panic among the people present, and screams echoed from within the tunnel.
Dhami Monitoring Relief and Rescue Operations
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami immediately turned his attention to the situation upon receiving news of the incident. CM Dhami has issued directives to conduct rescue operations on a war footing and has ordered that all possible assistance be provided to the affected individuals. He also spoke with the Chief Ministers of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, and labourers from these states were engaged in the tunnel’s construction. CM Dhami is continuously monitoring the rescue operation.
