The operation to rescue three people trapped inside a tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district continued on Friday, with heavy rainfall posing a major challenge to the rescue teams. Continuous rain in the area has caused water levels inside the tunnel to rise, making it difficult for rescuers to carry out the operation.Garhwal Range Inspector General of Police (IGP) Rajiv Swaroop confirmed that the rescue teams were facing difficulties due to the rainfall but expressed confidence that the operation would be successful.
“The area where the debris has accumulated is flooded, and it is being rapidly cleared with the help of machines. The continuous rain is posing some challenges to the operation. We have marked a specific area for the operation, where every square metre is being carefully inspected,” he said.
A total of 22 people were working at the project site of Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited in Chamoli’s Pipalkoti when a large amount of water suddenly rushed into the tunnel, sweeping them away. NDRF and SDRF teams have so far managed to rescue 19 people. However, seven of them later died during treatment, the district magistrate confirmed.
“At the time of the incident, which occurred yesterday, 22 people were working here. At about 1.8 km inside the tunnel, water and debris came rushing in and trapped them. Six people were sent to rescue them, and they returned safely after some time,” Kumar told reporters while briefing them on the situation.