Chamoli tunnel tragedy: 7 killed as water, debris flood THDC site in Uttarakhand
Synopsis
Seven construction workers are dead and rescue teams are still searching after a wall of water and debris tore through an under-construction THDC tunnel in Chamoli on Thursday evening. With 25 workers on site at the time and only 13 confirmed rescued, the full toll may not yet be known — and Uttarakhand's monsoon season has already claimed a bridge in the same district this week.
Key Takeaways
Seven workers — Pradeep Singh Pawar, Mukesh, Durlabh Singh, Vijay, Jitendra Kumar, Lokeshwar , and Bhuneshwar — were killed in the Chamoli tunnel flood on 14 August .
The surge of water and debris struck the THDC project tunnel in Pipalkoti at approximately 6:30 pm IST on Thursday with 25 workers present.
13 workers have been rescued; NDRF and SDRF teams continue search operations.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is visiting the accident site and Gopeshwar District Hospital on Friday.
The incident follows heavy monsoon rainfall in Chamoli, which also swept away a bridge in Niti Valley earlier this week.
At least seven workers were killed and several others injured after a sudden surge of water and debris flooded an under-construction tunnel at the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd (THDC) project site in Pipalkoti, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, on the evening of Thursday, 14 August. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is scheduled to visit the accident site on Friday to review rescue and relief operations.
What Happened at the Tunnel
According to Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar, a large volume of water and debris entered the tunnel at approximately 6:30 pm IST on Thursday while construction work was actively underway. At least 25 workers were present at the site at the time. The strong currents, carrying heavy debris, swept several workers toward the tunnel's exit, triggering panic and causing extensive damage to the worksite.
The State Disaster Management Authority confirmed that 13 workers have been rescued so far. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are conducting intensive search operations under challenging conditions to locate any remaining trapped workers.
The Deceased
The seven workers killed in the incident have been identified as Pradeep Singh Pawar, Mukesh, Durlabh Singh, Vijay, Jitendra Kumar, Lokeshwar, and Bhuneshwar. The injured are being treated at Gopeshwar District Hospital, which Chief Minister Dhami is also expected to visit to meet the victims and assess medical arrangements.
Government Response
Chief Minister Dhami described the incident as extremely tragic and directed officials to carry out rescue and relief operations on a 'war footing'. He said he has been continuously monitoring the situation through real-time updates from senior officers. Local MLA Lakhpat Butola called the incident 'deeply tragic' and confirmed that the full administrative machinery had been deployed at the site. 'The entire administrative team and all my colleagues have reached the spot, and our priority is to provide every possible support to those engaged in the rescue efforts,' Butola said.
Monsoon Conditions Behind the Surge
The accident comes amid heavy and persistent rainfall across Chamoli district over the past several days. Earlier this week, rising river levels in Chamoli's Niti Valley swept away a bridge, underscoring the severity of monsoon activity in the region. A video of that incident showed a massive flow of water mixed with mud crashing into the metal structure and washing it away within seconds. This is the latest in a series of weather-triggered disasters to hit Uttarakhand during the 2025 monsoon season, raising questions about safety protocols at active construction sites in high-risk zones.
What Comes Next
Search operations are ongoing, and the full number of workers still unaccounted for had not been officially confirmed at the time of reporting. Chief Minister Dhami is expected to reach Haridwar later on Friday at around 12:30 pm IST to attend a 'Partition Horrors Remembrance Day' programme at Premnagar Ashram after completing his site inspection. A formal inquiry into the circumstances of the tunnel flooding is anticipated following the conclusion of rescue operations.
Point of View
High-rainfall zones continues to carry severe human risk. The THDC site in Pipalkoti is not an isolated case — Uttarakhand has seen repeated weather-related construction fatalities, yet site-level safety protocols for extreme rainfall events remain inconsistently enforced. The fact that 25 workers were inside a tunnel during active monsoon conditions, with no apparent early-warning evacuation, is the question a post-rescue inquiry must answer. Chief Minister Dhami's visit signals political urgency, but accountability requires more than a war-footing directive after the fact.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the Chamoli tunnel on 14 August 2025?
A sudden surge of water and debris flooded an under-construction tunnel at the THDC project site in Pipalkoti, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, at around 6:30 pm IST on Thursday, 14 August. Seven workers were killed and several others injured; 13 have been rescued so far.
Who were the workers killed in the Chamoli tunnel accident?
The seven deceased have been identified as Pradeep Singh Pawar, Mukesh, Durlabh Singh, Vijay, Jitendra Kumar, Lokeshwar, and Bhuneshwar. All were working at the THDC construction site when the tunnel was flooded.
How many workers were at the site and how many have been rescued?
At least 25 workers were present at the THDC tunnel site at the time of the incident. According to the State Disaster Management Authority, 13 workers have been rescued so far, with NDRF and SDRF teams still conducting search operations.
What is the government doing in response to the Chamoli tunnel tragedy?
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials to conduct rescue operations on a 'war footing' and is personally visiting the accident site and Gopeshwar District Hospital on Friday. NDRF and SDRF teams are deployed for ongoing search and rescue.
Why did water flood the Chamoli tunnel?
District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said a large quantity of water and debris entered the tunnel while construction was underway, triggered by heavy monsoon rainfall that has been battering Chamoli district for several days. The same rainfall earlier swept away a bridge in Niti Valley this week.
