A relief and rescue operation continued through the night to safely evacuate workers trapped following a massive landslide inside the tunnel of the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project, currently under construction on the Alaknanda River in the Hat Siyasain area of ​​Chamoli district. Three workers remain trapped in the tunnel, and search operations are ongoing this Friday.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami arrived in Pipalkoti on Friday morning. He was briefed on the relief and rescue efforts by teams from the district administration, disaster management, police, SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, and the Army. He subsequently inquired about the condition of the injured workers. Seven workers have died in the accident, while 11 injured individuals are undergoing treatment; one injured person has been discharged from the hospital. Three workers remain trapped inside the tunnel.

How the accident occurred in the tunnel

Chamoli District Magistrate (DM) Gaurav Kumar stated that a landslide and water leakage inside the tunnel caused debris to accumulate, creating a chaotic situation. According to Chamoli Superintendent of Police (SP) Surjit Singh Panwar, the accident occurred approximately 1,850 meters inside the project’s tunnel. The collapse of an unstable section allowed water and debris to rush in, turning a large part of the tunnel into a swampy mess.