Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Chamoli tunnel rescue: Teams search for three missing after flooding
Imagine workers were building a big underground tunnel in the mountains.
Suddenly, lots of water and mud rushed into the tunnel and trapped some of the workers inside.
There were 22 people working in the tunnel when the accident happened.
Rescue teams have been able to save 12 of them.
Sadly, they found the bodies of 7 workers who did not survive.
Three workers are still missing, and rescuers are still looking for them.
The tunnel is now partly filled with dark, muddy water, which makes it very hard to search.
Rescuers used a small makeshift boat to float through the flooded part of the tunnel.
They are also searching by hand in areas where the water and mud are thick.
Many rescue teams are working together and taking turns to keep searching.
A sudden inflow of water and debris flooded THDC's under-construction tunnel in Chamoli district on Thursday evening, trapping workers inside.
Of the 22 people involved, 12 have been rescued, seven bodies have been recovered and three people remain missing.
NDRF, SDRF, DDRF and ITBP personnel are coordinating the rescue operation at the site.
Around 900 metres of the tunnel is filled with water and sludge, with poor visibility hampering the search.
SDRF personnel used a makeshift boat to navigate flooded sections, with three teams carrying out rotational operations.
- Who
- Rescue personnel from NDRF, SDRF, DDRF and ITBP; 22 people were involved in the tunnel accident.
- What
- A rescue operation to locate three workers missing after water and debris flooded an under-construction THDC tunnel; 12 people were rescued and seven bodies were recovered.
- When
- The accident occurred on Thursday evening, August 13, 2026; rescue operations continue as of August 14, 2026.
- Where
- Mayapur-Pipalkoti area of Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India.
- Why
- A sudden inflow of water and debris into the tunnel trapped workers inside, leaving three people missing.
- Incident
- Water and debris inflow into under-construction THDC tunnel
- Location
- Mayapur-Pipalkoti, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand
- People involved
- 22
- Rescued
- 12
- Bodies recovered
- 7
- Missing
- 3
- Flooded stretch
- Approximately 900 metres of the 2.5-km tunnel
- Agencies
- NDRF, SDRF, DDRF, ITBP