Seven Workers Killed in Chamoli Tunnel Accident, Rescue Operation Underway

Seven workers have died following an outbreak of water and mud that entered a tunnel being constructed as part of a hydroelectric power plant in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. This incident took place on Thursday at Mayapur close to Pipalkoti where landslides led to the entry of mud and water in the tunnel which trapped several workers in it.
As reported by the District Disaster Management Officer N K Joshi, a total of 22 workers were working in the tunnel when the incident took place. As many as 19 workers could be saved in rescue efforts undertaken overnight, but out of these 7 later died due to injuries. 

Searches are underway for 3 workers that are still missing.
Those who died in this incident have been identified as Pradeep Singh Pawar from Tehri, Mukesh from Chamoli, Durlabh Sharma from Bihar, Vijay and Jitendra Kumar from Jharkhand, and Lokeshwar and Bhuneshwar whose home districts have not been ascertained yet. Injured workers have been taken to Gopeshwar District Hospital.

Rescue operations are underway through a collective effort of NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, and the local police force. Six members of the rescue team have already gone into the submerged tunnel in search of the missing labourers. 

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has arrived in Pipalkoti by helicopter. He is supervising the rescue operation on the spot. The district magistrate of the area, Gaurav Kumar, has also been present in the area and directed the team to deploy all available assets in search of the missing labourers.