PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Jyotirmath
Search operations have been stepped up for two missing workers in the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydro power project tunnel on Sunday, a day after the death toll from the August 13 disaster rose with the recovery of the eighth body. Meanwhile, THDC India Limited announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs five lakh each to the next of kin of the workers who died and Rs one lakh assistance to every injured worker.
Chamoli district magistrate Gaurav Kumar is monitoring the search and rescue operation while coordinating efforts of the teams involved. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), police and district administration are working on a war footing to search for the two missing workers. Pumps are being used continuously to drain the water from the tunnel. Additionally, work is also being undertaken to remove the machinery and other heavy obstacles stuck in the tunnel. Modern tools and available technology are being used to remove the machinery from the tunnel to clear the way for the rescue teams to move ahead into the tunnel.
The DM informed that on chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s directions, a magisterial inquiry has been ordered in the incident. The reasons for the incident and relevant conditions will be ascertained through the inquiry and necessary action will be taken based on these findings, he said. Kumar said that a total of 20 people have been rescued from the tunnel so far, out of whom eight did not survive while search operations are continuing for the two remaining persons.
