Overview
- A landslide-like surge flooded the under-construction THDC Vishnugad-Pipalkoti tunnel on Thursday, trapping 22 workers and leaving eight confirmed dead.
- Rescuers have pulled 12 injured workers out and hospitalised them while search teams continue to look for two missing labourers identified as Lucas Topno and Chetan Poyam.
- Operations by NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, local police and Army forces use pumps from NTPC and THDC and have retrieved three of five trapped JCBs to improve access.
- Teams say high water levels, sludge and debris inside the three-kilometre tunnel are slowing progress even as roughly 175 personnel and 12 pumps remain deployed.
- Uttarakhand’s chief minister has ordered a magisterial inquiry and worker groups are pushing for safety audits and higher compensation as investigators probe causes and site safety.