Seven killed, 14 injured after water, debris flood tunnel in India

At least seven people were killed and 14 others injured after water and debris entered an under-construction tunnel at a hydroelectric project in India’s northern Uttarakhand state, officials said.

The incident occurred on August 13 at a project site in Chamoli district, where 22 workers were inside the tunnel when water and debris suddenly entered it, according to preliminary information from authorities, Indian media reports. 

Rescue teams managed to evacuate 21 workers. Seven were declared dead, while 14 others were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The status of the remaining worker was not immediately known.

The incident was reported at around 7:05 p.m. local time in the Pipalkoti area of Chamoli, according to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).

Teams from the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and SDRF were deployed to the site to search for and evacuate the trapped workers.

The tunnel is being constructed as part of a project operated by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC).

By Sabina Mammadli