Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse: 3 Workers Trapped, 16 Rescued

Three workers remain trapped inside an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district following a collapse on Thursday evening. The incident occurred at approximately 7:05 pm when approximately 19 workers were inside the THDC India tunnel near Pipalkoti. A sudden surge of water and debris caused the collapse, trapping the three individuals.

What Happened

Sixteen workers have been safely rescued from the tunnel. Emergency teams, including local disaster response personnel, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), were immediately dispatched to the site. The operation is ongoing to evacuate the remaining three trapped workers.

Key Facts

• An under-construction THDC India tunnel near Pipalkoti in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district collapsed on Thursday evening.
• The incident was reported at 7 pm on Thursday when debris and water entered the tunnel.
• Approximately 19 workers were inside the tunnel at the time of the incident, which occurred around 7:05 pm.
• Sixteen workers have been rescued.
• Three workers remain trapped inside the tunnel.
• Emergency teams, including NDRF and SDRF, have been dispatched to the site.
• Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is overseeing the rescue efforts and has directed officials to conduct operations on a war footing.
• The priority is the safe evacuation of all trapped individuals.

Background

Chief Minister Dhami has expressed deep concern and stressed that the government's top priority is the safe evacuation of all trapped individuals. He has directed officials to ensure all necessary resources are deployed and that there is no laxity in rescue efforts. Vinod Kumar Suman, secretary of disaster management and rehabilitation, stated that all agencies are working in coordination and have been directed to expedite relief and rescue operations.