Seven Killed in Uttarakhand Tunnel Flood at Hydro Project

At least seven workers were killed and two remained missing after water and debris flooded an under-construction tunnel at a hydroelectric project in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Thursday evening, August 13, 2026. The incident occurred around 6:45 p.m. at the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti project site near Pipalkoti, trapping 22 workers inside the tunnel.

Rescue teams from multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Army, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police, were immediately deployed. By Friday morning, 20 workers had been rescued. Nineteen of them were transported to the District Hospital in Gopeshwar, where seven were declared dead upon arrival. Ten survivors were admitted for treatment, while one worker in unstable condition was referred to the Base Hospital in Srinagar for specialized care.

Preliminary reports indicate that excavation was underway inside the tunnel when workers heard a loud sound, followed by a powerful surge of water and debris that blocked a section of the passage. Officials said water seepage and a landslide may have triggered the incident, though the precise cause will be established after an investigation. The...