'How was leak overlooked?' Cong targets U'khand govt over tunnel tragedy, seeks probe

Uttarakhand Congress leaders have accused the Dhami administration of negligence following the tragic collapse of the Pipalkoti tunnel in Chamoli district. Workers at the site of the under-construction THDC tunnel informed Ganesh Godiyal that a water leak had been occurring at the same location for an extended period before the disaster.

Godiyal demanded a thorough investigation into why this leak was overlooked, questioning the government's response and the compensation offered to the victims' families, which he deemed insufficient. The death toll rose to eight after rescue teams recovered another body, with two workers still trapped. The cause of the leak is under scrutiny, with NTPC executive director Ajay Verma suggesting a pre-existing natural cavity played a role.

Rescue efforts continue, with authorities lowering the water level and increasing pump operations, but challenges remain due to the scale of the flooding and limited access.