7 dead, 3 missing as surge of water, debris enters under-construction hydro tunnel in Uttarakhand
Continuous rains hinder rescue efforts, with three workers still trapped; 12 injured workers, including two critically hurt; poor safety regime results in repeated tunnel collapses, industrial accidents in State, says activist
A sudden surge of water and debris entered a hydro tunnel under construction in the Pipalkoti area of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Thursday evening, resulting in seven deaths and 12 injuries. Rescue teams are currently searching for three workers still trapped inside the tunnel. The state government attributes the incident to persistent rain, which has made rescue operations difficult due to water-filled tunnel and poor underwater visibility.
The tunnel, 4.5 kilometers long, has seen approximately 900 meters of it inundated with water and sludge. Over 900 workers, representing various states, were at the site when the mishap occurred. The Hindustan Construction Company is responsible for the tunnel's construction. Workers reported that the conditions inside the tunnel changed abruptly, with a sudden rush of air, leaving them with no time to react.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has visited the site to oversee the rescue efforts and express concern for the injured workers.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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