Chamoli Tunnel Tragedy: 7 Workers Killed, 3 Still Missing as Rescue Operation Continues

A major tragedy has struck Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district after water and debris suddenly gushed into an under-construction tunnel at the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydroelectric project in the Mayapur-Pipalkoti area. Officials said 22 workers were inside the tunnel when the incident occurred on Thursday. The latest reports confirm that seven workers have died, while three remain missing. Nineteen workers were brought out during the rescue operation, with injured workers shifted to Gopeshwar District Hospital for treatment. The incident is believed to have been triggered by landslide activity and sudden water ingress, which caused debris and water to rapidly fill a section of the tunnel and trap workers inside. A multi-agency rescue operation is underway, involving the NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, Uttarakhand Police and other emergency teams. Rescue personnel have also entered the water-filled section of the tunnel as teams continue searching for the missing workers. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has reached the area and is overseeing the rescue efforts, with authorities directing agencies to continue operations on a war footing. The incident has once again highlighted the serious challenges involved in construction work in the fragile Himalayan terrain, where landslides, water seepage and unstable geology can pose major risks.