7 workers killed in India tunnel accident

At least seven workers lost their lives and 13 were injured when a landslide inundated a tunnel being built for a state-run hydropower project in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, India. As of Friday, three workers remained missing, while 19 had been rescued from the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation site. Videos captured rescue workers navigating the flooded tunnel using makeshift rafts, guided by head-mounted torches in the dark.

Uttarakhand has recently experienced torrential monsoon rains. Ecologists warn that India's frequent construction site accidents stem from excessive development projects, which are exacerbating disasters in the region's fragile Himalayan areas. In Sikkim last month, 20 workers were killed in a similar tunnel collapse while constructing another state-run hydroelectric project.

In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after being trapped for 17 days following a tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand. Since the monsoon season began in June, hundreds of people have perished in floods and landslides across the country. Experts attribute the rising frequency and severity of these disasters to climate change, compounded by poorly planned development initiatives.