Rescue operations intensify at Vishnugad-Pipalkoti after tunnel fills with water and debris
Rescue teams are working under difficult conditions to locate 22 workers trapped after a landslide sent water and debris into an under-construction tunnel at the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project in Chamoli district. The incident at the project managed by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation India Limited (THDCIL) has so far claimed the lives of eight workers, while 12 remain admitted to hospitals and two are still unaccounted for, officials said.
The flood inundated a Tail Race Tunnel (TRT) — the underground conduit used for discharging water from hydropower units — while workers deployed by the principal executing agency, Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), were reportedly concreting the tunnel lining.
Multiple agencies are involved in the search and rescue, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Army, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Uttarakhand Police. Underwater cameras and dog squads have been deployed to aid the effort.
Rescuers have turned to improvised flotation aids — blue polymer drums — to negotiate the mix of water, mud and submerged machinery inside the tunnel. Officials said heavy rainfall and the presence of concrete, metallic equipment and construction machines embedded in the debris have made entry hazardous.
“Water and debris have entered the tunnel. Cement, metallic equipment and heavy machines are submerged in the mud,” one rescuer said. “Our feet keep getting caught. Also, since heavy machinery is trapped under the debris, it could potentially hurt rescuers, so we have to move carefully.”
Officials also warned of continuing seepage from the tunnel roof and walls, which has caused water levels inside the tunnel to rise, complicating the search and increasing the urgency of locating the missing workers.
Emergency teams are using a combination of surface pumps, diving operations where possible, remote cameras and the drum-assisted flotation technique to access blocked sections. The presence of construction material and trapped heavy equipment is slowing progress and limiting the scope for free movement of rescue personnel inside the tunnel.
Authorities confirmed that of the 22 workers inside the tunnel when the incident occurred, 12 managed to escape as water rose. The bodies of eight trapped persons have been recovered so far; two are still missing, according to official updates shared from the site.
- Incident site: Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project, Chamoli district
- Type of structure affected: Tail Race Tunnel (TRT) under construction
- Executing agency on site: Hindustan Construction Company (HCC)
- Responding agencies: NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, Army, CISF, Uttarakhand Police
- Casualties and status: 8 dead, 12 hospitalised, 2 missing
Given the tunnel environment and ongoing seepage, officials have emphasised caution in rescue operations to avoid further casualties among workers and rescuers. The use of remote visual equipment and flotation drums is an attempt to probe affected stretches while limiting human exposure to unstable debris and submerged machinery.
The incident highlights the vulnerabilities of underground construction work in hilly terrain, especially during heavy rainfall. Authorities have not yet released a detailed technical assessment of the cause beyond noting that a landslide triggered the influx of water and debris into the tunnel. Local administration teams and company officials are coordinating medical assistance and relief for the injured and families of the victims.
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Workers inside tunnel | 22 |
| Deceased | 8 |
| Hospitalised | 12 |
| Missing | 2 |
Rescue authorities said operations will continue until the missing workers are accounted for. Further details, including an official inquiry into construction safety practices at the site and any potential impact on project timelines, are expected as the immediate search and relief phase progresses.
