Uttarakhand inundated tunnel toll rises to 9 as rescue operations continue
Chamoli district magistrate Gaurav Kumar said rescuers are conducting continuous and intensive searches within the tunnel
A suspected aquifer burst caused water and debris to surge through an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on August 13, trapping 22 workers. Twelve workers were rescued, but as of Tuesday, the death toll had risen to nine. Rescue operations are ongoing, with rescuers removing debris and sludge from the site and using suction pumps to facilitate the search for the missing worker.
The tunnel is three kilometers long and situated 1.44 kilometers from the entrance. Preliminary assessments suggest that the rain-saturated aquifer ruptured through the roof of the tunnel, pushing a column of air that trapped some workers near the tunnel mouth and others deeper inside the passage. Rescued workers reported hearing and feeling a powerful gust of air, followed by debris and rising water.
Officials are conducting a thorough search at all possible locations inside the tunnel, prioritizing the search for the missing worker.
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