At least seven workers have been killed and 13 others injured after water and debris flooded an under-construction tunnel at a hydropower project in northern India.
The accident occurred late Thursday in Uttarak hand after a landslide caused water and debris to rush into the tunnel, trapping construction workers inside. Rescue Operation Underway Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said a major rescue operation was underway to reach workers still trapped inside the tunnel. The State Disaster Management Authority said three workers remained missing. “Evacuating every worker safely is our top priority,” Dhami said in a social media post.
Rescue teams have been using head-mounted torches and makeshift rafts to navigate the flooded tunnel. Amrit Lal Meena, commander of the National Disaster Response Force team, said rescuers encountered significant amounts of water inside the tunnel, with additional water seeping through the sides. He said the water level had increased considerably since the rescue operation began. Heavy Rains Raise Concerns Uttarakhand has experienced heavy monsoon rainfall in recent days, increasing the risk of landslides and flooding in the mountainous region.
The accident has also renewed concerns over construction and development projects in the fragile Himalayan region. Ecologists have warned that excessive development may be contributing to disasters in environmentally sensitive areas. Last month, 20 workers were killed while working in a tunnel for another state-run hydroelectric project in the northeastern state of Sikkim.In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after spending 17 days trapped inside a collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand.
Hundreds of people have been killed by floods and landslides across India since the annual monsoon season began in June. Experts have linked the increasing frequency and severity of such disasters to climate change combined with poorly planned development.
