HighLights
  1. Landslide at THDC Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project tunnel.
  2. Sixteen people have been successfully rescued so far.
  3. Incident occurred in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, prompting rescue efforts.

Jagran Correspondent, Chamoli | A landslide has occurred in the under-construction tunnel of THDC's Vishnugad Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project in Uttarakhand's Chamoli on Thursday, leaving at least three workers dead and 11 injured. Soon after the incident, the local administration, with the help of NDRF and SDRF personnel, launched a rescue operation in the tunnel.

16 of 22 workers were safely rescued so far, while the rescue operation to safely evacuate the remaining people was ongoing. The district administration, police, SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, Army, and other relevant teams were present at the scene. An operation was underway to reach and safely evacuate those trapped in the tunnel.

ALSO READ: Uttarakhand Weather: Heavy To Very Heavy Rainfall Expected Till August 17, Orange Alert Issued In 4 Districts | Forecast

11 rescued injured workers were brought to the District Hospital, Chamoli, after debris and water entered an under-construction THDC tunnel in Mayapur (Peepalkoti).

Names Of The Deceased

- Pradeep Panwar (35), Village Gaonwar, Chamba, Tehri

- Mukesh

- Durlabh Sharma

Names Of The Injured:

- Chandan Kumar Singh (39), Rohtas, Bihar
- Rohit Pandey, 20, Kalyanpur, Vihar, has been referred
- Khela Ram (22), Visra, Jharkhand
- Dina Bengra (26), Village Rone, Turpa, Jharkhand
- Nistar Mangra (24), resident of Berakisu Toli, Jharkhand
- Pail Singh Netang (33), village Samalpur, Gonda, Chhattisgarh
- Vinod Rayana (46), Village, Gumla, Jhar Block
- Habil Gudiya (27), Tapra, Jharkhand
- Sunil Dewan (20), Village Dahi Tonga, Konda, Chhattisgarh
- Sivek (42), Village Sangrakala, District Tarn Taran, Punjab
- Tilak Raj (48), village Sheru, Kihar, Chamba

Recommended For You

What Chamoli DM Said

Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said the tunnel is under construction for a hydropower project belonging to THDC. "Around 6:30 or 6:45 PM, a large volume of debris and water surged into the tunnel. Workers from the shift on duty got trapped inside. About 15 or 16 people have already been rescued. NDRF and SDRF teams, along with all our machinery, are currently engaged in operations for the remaining individuals, and we are hopeful that we will be able to rescue everyone within the next few hours," he added.

The District Magistrate, after reviewing the situation from the officials and rescue teams present on the spot, directed that rescue operations be conducted with utmost promptness and coordination. The administration is mobilising the necessary resources and arrangements at the site and is continuously monitoring the entire incident. 

ALSO READ: Chamoli Cloudburst: Bridge, Bulldozer & Vehicle Swept Away; BRO Employee Missing | Horrific Visuals Surface

CM Dhami Issues Statement

Reacting to the incident, the Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, said teams from NDRF and SDRF 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, he added.

"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 priority is to safely evacuate every person trapped inside the tunnel. I pray to God for the safe well-being of all," the Uttarakhand chief minister wrote on X.

In another X post, the chief minister said a total 22 workers were trapped in the tunnel, and 16 of them were rescued.


Also In News