Seven workers die in Uttarakhand hydropower tunnel landslide accident

At least seven workers were killed and 13 others injured in a tunnel accident at a hydropower construction site in Uttarakhand, northern India, late Thursday. The incident occurred after a landslide caused water and debris to surge into the tunnel, trapping the workers inside. Local officials confirmed the deaths and injuries as rescue operations continued into the night.

The accident comes amid heavy monsoon rains that have battered Uttarakhand in recent days. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described the rescue effort as a “war-like operation,” emphasizing the urgency to evacuate any remaining workers. As of now, three workers remain unaccounted for, and Dhami stated that safely retrieving every worker is the top priority. Videos from the scene show rescue teams navigating through flooded sections of the tunnel using makeshift rafts and headlamps.

Accidents in large-scale construction projects are unfortunately common in India. Ecologists point out that excessive development in the fragile Himalayan region exacerbates the risk of such disasters. Just last month, a similar incident in a tunnel for another state-run hydroelectric project in Sikkim claimed the lives of 20 workers. In 2023, a separate incident in Uttarakhand saw 41 workers trapped for 17 days due to a collapsed tunnel.

The ongoing monsoon season has resulted in widespread devastation across India, with hundreds killed in floods and landslides since June. Climate change, combined with poor planning of development projects, is believed to be increasing both the frequency and severity of these catastrophic events. As rescue efforts continue, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of all workers involved in the hazardous conditions of construction in the region.