# 16 rescued, 3 trapped after tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli

2026-08-13T17:16:14+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 6 independent outlets

Sixteen workers were rescued and three are feared trapped after debris and water gushed into an under-construction tunnel at the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) project site in Pipalkoti, Chamoli district, on Thursday evening. The incident occurred around 7 pm when a landslide sent a surge of debris and water into the 3-km-long tail-race tunnel, trapping workers on shift. Rescue teams from NDRF, SDRF, police, CISF, ITBP, and the Army are at the site. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered a war-footing operation. District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said the water and debris entered around 1.5 km from the tunnel mouth.

## Coverage

- hindustantimes.com <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/3-workers-trapped-16-rescued-as-tunnel-collapses-in-uttarakhands-chamoli-water-gushes-in-death-toll-injured-101786633592467.html>
- economictimes.indiatimes.com <https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/chamoli-tunnel-incident-19-workers-trapped-massive-rescue-operation-underway/articleshow/133217876.cms>
- indiatvnews.com <https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/workers-trapped-after-tunnel-collapses-in-uttarakhand-s-chamoli-several-rescued-rescue-operation-pushkar-singh-dhami-statement-latest-updates-2026-08-13-1051299>
- deccanherald.com <https://www.deccanherald.com/india/uttarakhand/tehri-hydro-development-corporation-thdc-limiteds-hydroelectric-project-site-4110266>
- timesnownews.com <https://www.timesnownews.com/india/several-workers-feared-trapped-as-tunnel-collapses-in-uttarakhands-chamoli-district-article-155608320>
- hindustantimes.com <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/landslide-then-influx-of-debris-water-what-happened-at-uttarakhand-tunnel-mishap-101786638285066.html>
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/sudden-water-inflow-traps-workers-inside-uttarakhand-tunnel-after-heavy-rain-16-rescued/articleshow/133217903.cms>

Tags: Chamoli, NDRF, Pushkar Singh Dhami, THDC, Uttarakhand tunnel collapse, worker rescue
Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/tunnel-collapse-in-uttarakhands-chamoli-16-rescued-3-trapped/
License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources.
Cite: https://indianopinion.org/tunnel-collapse-in-uttarakhands-chamoli-16-rescued-3-trapped/#story-in-brief

Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.