Rescue operations continued around the clock in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district following an incident at an under-construction hydropower project site where a sudden surge of water and debris trapped workers inside a tunnel. According to sources, at least six people died and others remained missing after the disaster struck the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd (THDC) project area in the Pipalkoti region on Thursday evening.
The tragedy unfolded at approximately 6:30 p.m. local time on Thursday when water and debris breached the underground site, catching shift workers unaware. Local authorities confirmed that a total of 22 workers were inside the tunnel when the influx occurred. While 16 individuals were rescued, rescue teams worked to locate those still unaccounted for.
The disaster compounds a difficult week for the mountainous northern Indian state, which has experienced severe weather disruptions. Just three days prior to the tunnel breach, strong currents swept away a metal bridge in the Niti Valley region, highlighting the vulnerability of local infrastructure during the ongoing period of heavy rains.
Rescue Operations and Multi-Agency Response in Pipalkoti
Emergency responders rushed to the Mayapur area in Pipalkoti shortly after the incident was reported on Thursday, August 13, 2026, according to updates monitored via ANI. Chamoli police chief Surjeet Singh Pawar detailed the immediate aftermath, noting that teams were mobilized to tackle the blocked underground passage. “This is a tunnel under construction for a hydropower project. Around 6.30 pm, a significant amount of debris and water surged into the tunnel. Workers from the shift on duty at the time were trapped,” Pawar stated.
State authorities escalated the response. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered rescue and relief operations to be executed on a war footing. Senior officers maintained continuous communication, providing real-time updates directly to the Chief Minister.
#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Following reports of water and debris entering the under-construction THDC tunnel at Mayapur (Pipalkoti), the district administration is fully on alert. District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar reached the spot immediately after receiving information about the… pic.twitter.com/bZ2SNltOeE
— ANI (@ANI) August 13, 2026
District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar arrived at the project site immediately to oversee the deployment of emergency personnel. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), alongside local police units and residents, joined forces to search for the trapped workers.
Monsoon Weather Compounds Regional Hazards
The sudden influx of debris and water into the THDC project tunnel underscores the risks posed by weather across the hilly terrain of Uttarakhand. Heavy rains over the last few days have wreaked havoc in the hilly state, leading to landslides and flooding due to rising water levels in rivers.
As search teams navigate the remaining debris inside the Pipalkoti tunnel, state officials continue to monitor the situation. Emergency response units maintain their presence at the site until the missing workers are accounted for.
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