2 weeks ago

Chamoli tunnel flood: seven workers dead, rescue operations continue

Chamoli tunnel flood: seven workers dead, rescue operations continue
Chamoli Tunnel Accident: 7 Dead, Several Trapped After Water & Debris Flood Under-Construction THDC Tunnel In Uttarakhand | Video · freepressjournal.in

In a town called Pipalkoti in India, a tunnel was being built to help make electricity from a river.

On Thursday evening, water and rocks suddenly rushed into the tunnel while workers were inside, and some workers got stuck.

Different reports say different numbers of people were trapped, so nobody is completely sure how many.

Rescue teams from the NDRF, SDRF, Army and other groups worked very fast to bring workers out safely.

Some reports say 16 or 18 workers were rescued, while another said only 10.

Sadly, some workers died, but the reports disagree about how many — one says seven, one says four, and one says nine.

Workers who came out were taken to hospitals in Gopeshwar and Pipalkoti, and most were reported stable.

Special teams even brought dogs to help search for people still inside.

The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, told everyone to rescue the workers as fast as possible.

Rescuers are still searching for the people who remain inside the tunnel, and the cause of the flood is not yet known.

Key facts

Location
Pipalkoti (Mayapur), Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India
Project
Under-construction THDC tunnel; Tail Race Tunnel of the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project on the Alaknanda River
Construction company
Hindustan Construction Company (HCC)
Workers trapped
18-19 around 7 pm per state government; other reports cite around 20-25, 22, or 28
Workers rescued
16, 18, 19, or 10 depending on the report
Deaths reported
7 declared dead at Gopeshwar district hospital; 9 in one report; 4 in another; NDRF recovered 4 bodies
Rescue agencies
NDRF, SDRF, CISF, ITBP, Army, local police, Garhwal Scouts (Joshimath) with dog squad
Reported cause
Not confirmed; one report cites a massive landslide, another a landslide-like event near the Birhi River

Quotes

THDC Executive Director (Projects) Kumar Sharad

Executive Director (Projects) of Tehri Hydro Development Corporation

““Information has been received about debris and water entering the THDC tunnel located in Peepalkoti. Considering the seriousness of the incident, teams from @NDRFHQ and @uksdrf have been immediately dispatched to the site. Instructions have been issued to all relevant agencies, including the district administration, to carry out relief and rescue operations at a war footing. I myself am in constant contact with the officials and continuously gathering updates on the situation. Our topmost  pr i”
wionews.com
“After our team arrived and started the operation, there was a massive volume of water inside the tunnel. The water level has risen significantly since then. Our personnel, using specialised equipment, have recovered four bodies from the water so far. The rescue operation is still underway and will continue until everyone is retrieved.”
freepressjournal.in

Sources

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