Chamoli tunnel rescue: One more worker rescued, two still missing

Rescue operations continued on Saturday at the under-construction THDC tunnel at Mayapur (Pipalkoti) in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. Officials said body of another worker was rescued from the tunnel, death toll rise to eight.Workers were trapped when water and debris entered the tunnel after a suspected aquifer burst. (HT Photo)Officials said that search efforts continue for the two missing workers.Rescue teams are intensively searching inside the tunnel while efforts are also underway to drain out water from the site.Chamoli district magistrate Gaurav Kumar said, “Suction pumps and other equipment are being used to facilitate the movement of rescue personnel inside the tunnel and help them reach areas where the missing workers may be trapped.”Teams from the district administration, police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other departments are coordinating the rescue operation, he said.“The search for the two missing workers remains the top priority and all possible locations inside the tunnel are being thoroughly searched. Additional resources and equipment are being deployed at the site to speed up the operation,” he said.Also Read:CM Dhami inspects THDC tunnel rescue operation in Chamoli, directs teams to evacuate 3 trapped workersThe incident occurred on August 13 at the under-construction THDC tunnel at Mayapur (Pipalkoti), where workers were trapped when water and debris entered the tunnel after a suspected aquifer burst.Of the 22 workers on shift when the incident occurred around 7pm, 19 were brought out earlier—seven of them were declared dead at the district hospital in Gopeshwar and 12 were admitted with injuries, including one referred to the Base Hospital at Srinagar (Pauri Garhwal).