Chamoli tunnel incident toll rises to 11 as rescue operations end

The death toll in the Chamoli tunnel incident has risen to 11 after a worker who received medical treatment at AIIMS Rishikesh passed away, officials revealed. The deceased, identified as 20-year-old Rohit Pandey from Bihar, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday. Chamoli district magistrate Gaurav Kumar confirmed the grim news, stating, "The death toll is now 11."

He explained that the district administration was currently engaged in discussions with THDC India Limited (formerly Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited) and the executing company Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) regarding the workers' demand for increased compensation. While THDC and HCC have announced a total compensation of ₹11 lakh, the affected workers are seeking ₹50 lakh, citing compensation standards from the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) after the Raini disaster.

Kumar also mentioned that six workers are currently receiving treatment at Gopeshwar hospital, and the rescue and search operation for the submerged tunnel ended on Tuesday with the recovery of two missing workers' bodies. The operation was fraught with challenges due to the waterlogged and debris-filled tunnel and the obstruction caused by heavy machinery.

Despite these obstacles, rescue teams managed to recover the missing individuals through concerted efforts involving the district administration, police, State Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Response Force, THDC, and other agencies. Preliminary findings suggest that the tunnel became inundated when a rain-saturated aquifer ruptured, sending a deluge of water and debris through the structure.