Magisterial inquiries ordered into THDC tunnel accident in Chamoli: Official

The administration of Chamoli district has mandated magisterial inquiries into two incidents that occurred at construction sites in the region. The first inquiry was triggered by a tunnel accident that took place on August 13 at a THDC project under construction in the Hat area near Pipalkoti. The disaster occurred when water and debris rushed into the tunnel after an aquifer burst, trapping 22 workers around 7pm.

District magistrate Gaurav Kumar appointed the sub-divisional magistrate of Chamoli to lead the investigation into the causes of the accident, identifying any negligence and evaluating safety protocols. The inquiry will also examine the safety measures in place and propose recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The second inquiry is centered around an incident involving a flash flood in Tamak Nala near Tapovan. Heavy rainfall caused a sudden surge of water and debris, impacting traffic on National Highway-107 and damaging road and bridge infrastructure. The inquiry will explore the sequence of events leading to the incident, the factors contributing to the disaster, and the circumstances surrounding the affected vehicles, including two connected to the Border Roads Organisation.

The sub-divisional magistrate of Jyotirmath has been tasked with conducting a thorough investigation and presenting the findings within 15 days. District officials are instructed to cooperate fully with the investigating officers and furnish any necessary records or documents to facilitate the inquiries.