Chamoli:Arunoday times ,
A major accident occurred at an under-construction THDC tunnel in the Mayapur area of Pipalkoti in Chamoli district on Thursday evening after water and debris suddenly entered the tunnel, trapping 22 workers inside.
According to the latest information released by the district administration, seven workers have died, 19 people have been rescued, while three workers remain missing. A multi-agency rescue operation involving the SDRF, NDRF, ITBP, police, district administration and technical teams is continuing on a war footing.
The incident took place at the TRT tunnel of the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project. The tunnel is approximately three kilometres long, with the accident occurring around 1.5 kilometres inside the tunnel, where debris and water entered following ground subsidence. 
CM Dhami Reaches Pipalkoti Despite Bad Weather
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached Pipalkoti despite extremely adverse weather conditions and personally inspected the ongoing rescue operation.
The Chief Minister entered the tunnel to assess the rescue efforts and interacted with teams deployed at the site. He directed officials to make effective use of all available resources and technical expertise to rescue the remaining three workers.
Dhami said that saving every worker trapped inside the tunnel is the state government’s top priority and there must be no lapse in the rescue operation. 
CM Reviews Rescue Operation With Officials
After inspecting the site, the Chief Minister held a high-level meeting with officials at the THDC Guest House in Pipalkoti.
He directed the NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, police, district administration and THDC teams to maintain close coordination. He also stressed that the safety of rescue personnel must be given the highest priority.
Officials were instructed to continuously monitor the technical condition of the tunnel, water drainage and debris-removal operations.
19 Rescued, Three Still Missing
According to Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar, 22 people were initially trapped inside the tunnel. Following rescue efforts conducted throughout the night, 19 people have been brought out safely, while search operations continue for the remaining three.
The rescued workers were shifted to District Hospital Gopeshwar for treatment. Medical teams are continuously monitoring their condition.
Six rescue personnel who entered the tunnel to assist in the operation have also been reported safe.
Seven Workers Killed
Seven workers have died in the accident. The deceased include workers from Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The deceased have been identified as:
- Pradeep Panwar, 31, Tehri Garhwal
- Mukesh Singh, Chamoli
- Durlabh Sharma, Uttar Pradesh
- Vijay Hansda, Uttar Pradesh
- Jitendra Kumar, Uttar Pradesh
- Lokeshwar, Chhattisgarh
- Bhuvaneshwar, Chhattisgarh
The administration has said that financial assistance and compensation will be provided to the families of the deceased as per applicable disaster-management rules.
Three Workers Still Missing
Rescue teams are continuing their search for three workers who remain trapped or unaccounted for inside the tunnel.
The missing workers are:
- Lucas Topno, Jharkhand
- Chetan Poyam, Chhattisgarh
- Devanath, Chhattisgarh
Water and accumulated debris inside the tunnel continue to pose major challenges to the rescue teams.
Injured Workers Receive Treatment
The rescued workers include labourers from several states, including Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
The injured workers have been shifted to hospitals, where doctors and health department teams are providing treatment and continuously monitoring their condition.
CM Meets Injured Workers at Gopeshwar Hospital
Following his inspection of the rescue operation, Chief Minister Dhami visited District Hospital Gopeshwar and met the rescued injured workers.
He enquired about their health and treatment and also sought information from doctors regarding the medical facilities being provided to them.
Dhami instructed doctors to ensure the best possible treatment and said that there should be no shortage of medical care for the injured workers.
He said every human life is precious and that all available resources are being deployed to save those still trapped inside the tunnel.
Magistrial Probe Ordered
Chief Minister Dhami said that he had personally spoken with the Chief Ministers of the states concerned to ensure that the families of affected workers receive timely information about the incident.
He has also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the tunnel accident. The investigation will establish the circumstances leading to the incident and determine why water and debris suddenly entered the tunnel.
Disaster Management System Activated
According to Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority Additional Chief Executive Officer and DIG Rajkumar Negi, the state’s Incident Response System (IRS) was activated immediately after the incident was reported.
NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, police, district administration, THDC and technical experts are working together on the rescue operation.
Officials have indicated that a cavity inside the tunnel could have caused the sudden inflow of water and debris. However, the exact cause will be established only after a detailed investigation.
Disaster Management Minister Reviews Situation
Disaster Management Minister Madan Kaushik also reviewed the situation and the ongoing rescue operation.
He said the government’s immediate priority was to rescue the three workers still missing. He also announced that the families of workers who lost their lives would receive ₹4 lakh each as financial assistance under disaster-management norms, while treatment and compensation for the injured would be provided according to applicable rules.
Pipalkoti Adds to Chamoli’s Growing Disaster Concerns
The Pipalkoti tunnel accident has once again highlighted Chamoli’s vulnerability to natural and geological disasters.
The district has witnessed several major incidents in recent years, including the Raini disaster, Joshimath land subsidence and the recent Tamak Nala disaster.
In January 2023, extensive land subsidence was reported in Joshimath, with cracks appearing in buildings, roads and surrounding areas. Several families had to be shifted to safer locations, while unsafe structures were demolished.
The 2021 Raini disaster also caused widespread devastation and claimed numerous lives. More recently, heavy debris and water in the Tamak Nala area washed away a Bailey bridge, affecting connectivity on the Joshimath-Malari route.
Focus Now on Three Missing Workers
The rescue operation at the Pipalkoti tunnel remains the administration’s top priority. Of the 22 people initially trapped, 19 have been rescued, seven have died and three remain missing.
With adverse weather, water and debris complicating the operation, rescue agencies are continuing their efforts with extreme caution.
For the administration and rescue teams, the immediate objective remains clear: bring the three remaining workers out of the tunnel safely.
