- By Shubham Bajpai
- Sun, 31 Aug 2025 06:02 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a tragic incident, at least 19 workers of the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) were trapped inside the Dhauliganga Power Project in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh after heavy rainfall triggered a landslide and blocked its normal and emergency tunnels.
In a report, HT quoted Pithoragarh SP Rekha Yadav, saying that the workers were stranded inside the tunnel after large boulders blocked its mouth. She added that the rescue efforts were underway.
The workers have been in contact with the authorities, and the JCBs have been engaged in clearing the debris.
Speaking about the incident, Dharchula Deputy District Magistrate Jitendra Verma said that the machines have been deployed and the way will be cleared by the evening.
He added that the debris had been constantly falling, making the clearing work more difficult. However, the work has been proceeding with the help of the machines of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
Verma further said that all the trapped workers are safe and will be evacuated safely after the way to the power house is opened. He also said that power generation from the power project is continuing normally.
Earlier in the day, a motorable bridge on the Jyotirmath-Malari highway in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district was washed away due to heavy rainfall.
The damage to the bridge severed connectivity to more than a dozen villages in the border area of the Niti Valley. The bridge was damaged after the heavy rains in the upstream swelled the seasonal Tamak stream at around 2 am on Sunday, said district administration officials.
Meanwhile, the Badrinath National Highway has been closed after debris accumulated at two places -- Bhanirpani and Paaglanala -- between Chamoli and Jyotirmath.
(With PTI Inputs)
