Uttarakhand CM inspects relief, rescue operation in disaster-affected tunnel in Chamoli
Dehradun, Aug 14 (IANS) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the disaster-hit tunnel in Chamoli on Friday and conducted an on-site inspection of the ongoing relief and rescue operations.
The Chief Minister went into the affected THDC tunnel to take stock of the ongoing rescue efforts and assess the damages first-hand.
According to preliminary reports, more than two dozen people were trapped inside after water and debris entered the under-construction tunnel at a hydroelectric project site in Pipalkoti of Chamoli district.
The Chief Minister inquired about the progress of the rescue mission and also gathered crucial information from the officials and rescue teams. He was briefed by the teams engaged in the rescue operation, including the challenges being faced.
The Chief Minister, after getting on-the-spot updates, also issued necessary instructions to officials.
The Chief Minister took to X to share details about the ongoing rescue mission, stating that it was continuing at war footing to safely evacuate the remaining trapped workers.
“While reviewing the progress and challenges of the operation on the ground, I directed the officials to ensure no lapses at any level in the rescue efforts and to utilize all available resources to their full capacity. Evacuating every worker safely is our topmost priority,” he said on X.
Several workers trapped in the tunnel were evacuated on Thursday night.
The Chief Minister instructed officials to accord top priority to the rescue operation and urged seamless coordination among all teams, including the NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, and police.
According to the Chamoli District Magistrate, out of the 22 people trapped in the tunnel, 19 have been rescued so far, while the search and rescue operation for the remaining three continues. Seven tragic deaths have been reported in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, the rescued individuals who sustained injuries have been brought to the District Hospital in Gopeshwar for treatment, where a team of doctors and Health Department personnel are attending to them.
Notably, the TRT tunnel of THDC’s Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project is approximately three kilometres long. A situation involving the influx of debris and water arose due to a cave-in (subsidence) in a section spanning roughly 1.50 km of the tunnel.
–IANS
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