Chamoli Tunnel Collapse: 7 Dead, 14 Injured and 1 Worker Still Trapped at THDC Project in Uttarakhand (Videos)
Seven workers have died and 14 others were injured after water and debris entered an under-construction hydroelectric tunnel at the THDC project in Mayapur near Pipalkoti in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district.
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At least seven workers have died and 14 others were injured after debris and a large volume of water entered an under-construction hydroelectric tunnel at a THDC project in Mayapur near Pipalkoti in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. As of Friday morning, one worker remained trapped inside, while 21 of the 22 workers present at the site had been accounted for, according to a report.
Debris and Water Enter Chamoli Tunnel
The incident occurred at around 6:45 pm on Thursday when debris and water suddenly surged into the tunnel being constructed by Hindustan Construction Company (HCC). Workers from the shift on duty were caught inside as the tunnel was inundated. Authorities immediately launched a rescue operation and deployed machinery to remove debris and drain water. Chamoli Tunnel Collapse: Several Workers Trapped at THDC Project, 10 Rescued; Rescue Ops Underway (Videos).
Tunnel Collapses at THDC Project in Chamoli
𝐔𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝟏𝟒 𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐢
Seven people have died and 14 sustained injuries after a landslide and water seepage occurred in an under-construction tunnel at a hydroelectric project site in… pic.twitter.com/6xOddrkXtT
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) August 14, 2026
मायापुर रेस्क्यू टनल चमोली.. SDRF ने कुछ ऐसे किया rescue... Great job pic.twitter.com/DLdQHxGMlY
— dilip singh (@dilipinext1) August 14, 2026
Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said the tunnel was part of a hydropower project being developed by THDC. He said rescue teams were working to reach the remaining trapped worker.
Rescue Operation Underway
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), local police and other agencies were mobilised following the accident. Rescuers have been using machinery to clear the debris and improvised drum boats to navigate areas affected by water inside the tunnel.
The injured workers were taken to hospitals in the region. Officials said those requiring specialised treatment would be shifted to higher medical centres, while others were being treated in Gopeshwar. Uttarakhand: Four Dead in Chamoli Tunnel Mishap, Rescue Ops Underway.
Chief Minister Monitors Situation
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami directed officials to coordinate the rescue operation and deploy all available resources. Dhami said the government's priority was to ensure the safe evacuation of everyone still inside the tunnel. He has been receiving regular updates from officials overseeing the operation.
The Chief Minister also spoke with the chief ministers of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh following the incident, as some of the affected workers are understood to have links to those states.
Cause of Collapse Yet to Be Determined
Authorities have not yet established what caused the sudden entry of debris and water into the tunnel. Rescue teams are continuing to work amid difficult conditions as they attempt to reach the remaining trapped worker. Officials are also assessing the tunnel's condition while clearing the affected section.
The incident has once again highlighted the safety challenges involved in large infrastructure and hydropower projects in the Himalayan region, where difficult terrain and weather conditions can complicate construction and emergency operations.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2026 07:53 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
