Tragic Chamoli tunnel collapse: 7 dead, 3 trapped

7 Killed, 3 Trapped After Under-Construction Tunnel Collapses in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli

Seven workers have died and three others remain trapped after water and debris surged into an under-construction tunnel.

Subsequently, water and debris surged into the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, triggering a large rescue operation.

The accident took place in the Mayapur-Pipalkoti area of Chamoli. According to reports, a sudden rush of water and debris entered the tunnel, trapping workers inside. Officials are investigating whether the incident was linked to a sudden underground water or aquifer burst combined with unstable geological conditions in the area.

At the time of the incident, 22 workers were reportedly inside the affected tunnel. By the latest available update, 19 of them had been brought out, including seven who were declared dead. Three workers remain trapped inside, with rescue teams continuing efforts to reach them.

Several workers who were rescued suffered injuries and were taken for medical treatment. Reports have said that 14 workers sustained injuries during the incident, while authorities continued to assess the condition of those evacuated from the tunnel.

The rescue operation has involved the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), police, district administration and other emergency personnel. Heavy machinery, pumps and other equipment are being used to remove debris and deal with water inside the tunnel.

Rescue efforts have been complicated by continuing water accumulation, unstable conditions inside the tunnel and rainfall in the region. Teams are attempting to create safe access to the section where the three missing workers are believed to be trapped while avoiding further risks to rescuers.

The tunnel is part of the 444-MW Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project being developed by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC). The project is located on the Alaknanda River in Chamoli and involves extensive underground construction in the mountainous terrain.

The tragedy has once again highlighted the risks involved in large infrastructure and hydropower projects in Uttarakhand’s fragile Himalayan terrain. The region is vulnerable to landslides, flash floods, heavy rainfall and other geological hazards, making safety and emergency preparedness particularly important at underground construction sites.

Authorities are continuing the search for the three trapped workers, while the condition of the tunnel and the circumstances that led to the sudden influx of water and debris are being assessed. Further details are expected as the rescue operation progresses and officials establish the exact cause of the accident.