Uttarakhand tunnel tragedy toll at 8 as one more body recovered, aid announced

Twenty-two people were trapped inside after water and debris suddenly entered the three-kilometre-long under-construction tunnel in Pipalkoti at around 6.45 pm on Thursday.

In Short

• THDC announces Rs 5 lakh financial aid for families of each dead worker
• The tunnel, where the accident took place, is being built at THDC's project site
• Rescuers now looking for two remaining workers believed to be trapped inside

The death toll in the flooding at an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district rose to eight on Saturday after rescuers recovered the body of one more worker. The Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd (THDC), on whose project site the structure is being built, also announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of those killed and Rs 1 lakh each for the injured.

Twenty-two people were trapped inside after water and debris suddenly entered the three-kilometre-long tunnel at around 6.45 pm on Thursday.

According to an official report, 19 workers were pulled out during the relief and rescue operation that continued throughout Thursday night. Of these, seven people were dead, and 12 others were injured.

The incident took place at THDC's hydroelectric project site in Chamoli's Pipalkoti. Following the confirmation of the eighth casualty, the rescuers are now searching for the two remaining workers believed to be trapped inside the tunnel.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and other technical and specialist teams are involved in the ongoing relief and rescue operation.

The debris and water inside the tunnel have prompted rescue teams to proceed with the utmost caution and coordination, officials said. Despite the deployment of several pumping machines, the water level has not receded.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Pipalkoti on Friday, despite adverse weather conditions, to review the rescue operation.

He also met injured workers who had been rescued, and enquired about their health.

"The safe evacuation of every worker trapped inside the tunnel is the government's top priority, and all agencies are working on a war footing to ensure this," CM Dhami said.

Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said all available machinery and personnel had been mobilised to evacuate the workers.

Among other resources, rescue teams also deployed improvised drum boats to navigate through the water and debris while trying to reach the stranded workers.

- Ends
(With inputs from Kamal Nayan Silori, Ankit Sharma and PTI)