Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami met workers injured in the Chamoli tunnel collapse at a hospital and reviewed their treatment. He also inspected the accident site where a multi-agency rescue operation is on to save trapped workers.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday visited the District Hospital in Gopeshwar to meet workers injured in the Chamoli tunnel accident, enquire about their well-being and review the medical arrangements being made for their treatment. During his visit, Dhami interacted with the injured workers and took updates on their condition. He directed the medical teams to ensure that there was no lapse in treatment and that all necessary medical care was provided to those rescued from the tunnel.
The Chief Minister's hospital visit came after he inspected the accident site at Mayapur in Pipalkoti, where debris and water entered an under-construction tunnel of THDC's Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project, trapping 22 people inside. The injured workers rescued from the tunnel were brought to the District Hospital in Gopeshwar for treatment. Health Department teams and doctors are providing medical care and continuously monitoring their condition.
CM Inspects Rescue Operation
Dhami also directed officials to ensure that the families of those affected by the incident receive necessary assistance and that all arrangements at the accident site remain in place while the rescue operation continues. Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister reached the accident site at Mayapur and conducted an on-ground inspection of the ongoing relief and rescue operation. He interacted with officials and personnel from the various agencies deployed at the site and took detailed updates on the progress of the operation. Dhami also entered the tunnel to assess the situation and received information from the rescue teams working inside the affected structure.
19 of 22 Trapped Workers Rescued
According to the district administration, 19 of the 22 people trapped inside the tunnel had been rescued so far, while efforts were continuing to evacuate the remaining three people. The TRT tunnel of THDC's Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project is around three kilometres long. Officials said ground subsidence occurred along a stretch of around 1.50 kilometres, following which debris and water entered the tunnel, creating challenging conditions for the rescue operation.
CM Directs Officials to Prioritize Safe Evacuation
District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar briefed the Chief Minister about the incident, the rescue operations carried out so far and the arrangements at the site. During the inspection, Dhami directed officials to accord the highest priority to the safe evacuation of the remaining three workers. He instructed the authorities to make effective use of all available resources and technical expertise and maintain close coordination among the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), police and other teams involved in the operation. The Chief Minister stressed that every possible effort must be made to rescue the remaining workers safely.
The rescue operation continues as multiple agencies work jointly to clear debris, assess the affected section and reach the workers still trapped inside.
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