Seven killed in tunnel collapse at Indian hydropower project

Seven workers have died following a tunnel collapse at a hydropower project under construction in India's northern state of Uttarakhand. The incident occurred late Thursday night when a sudden influx of water and debris inundated the tunnel, trapping workers inside.

Rescue operations commenced immediately after the collapse at the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydroelectric project in Chamoli district. Officials reported that out of 22 workers initially inside the tunnel, 12 have been rescued alive. However, three individuals remain unaccounted for, and search efforts are actively underway.

Rescue teams from national and state disaster response forces, along with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and fire services, are confronting significant challenges. Rising water levels and continuous debris flow are hampering their efforts to locate the remaining missing workers. "Since then, the water level has increased considerably," stated the commander of the National Disaster Response Force team, highlighting the difficult conditions.

Construction accidents are a persistent issue in India, often attributed to rapid infrastructure development intersecting with geological instability, safety lapses, and extreme weather. The Himalayan region, prone to seismic activity and unpredictable underground conditions, presents particular risks for tunnel construction. This incident follows a history of similar accidents, including a coal mine explosion in Meghalaya that killed at least 18 workers and a 2023 tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand that trapped 41 workers for 17 days before their rescue.

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When our team reached the site and started the operation, there was a lot of water inside the tunnel and water was also seeping from the sides. Since then, the water level has increased considerably.