Chamoli disaster death toll rises to 32; 174 missing; 35 stuck in Tapovan tunnel. 100 metres of 250 metres long tunnel cleared of debris
Various agencies have continued efforts to reach upto 35 workers stranded in the tunnel of the under construction Tapovan-Vishnugad hydro power project since the disaster which struck on Sunday morning in the Raini-Tapovan areas of Chamoli district. The tunnel is about 250 metres deep and according to the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC), about 100 metres of the tunnel’s length has been cleared of the debris. The sludge and debris drying and becoming hard have made it harder for the rescue teams to clear it. Meanwhile, the death toll stood at 32 with 174 persons still missing as on Tuesday evening. Of the 32 bodies recovered, only seven have been identified so far.
The DIG, Law and Order, and the chief spokesman of Uttarakhand police, Nilesh Anand Bharne informed that in addition to personnel involved in the rescue effort, teams of experts and necessary equipment were present at the site of the tunnel where the workers are stranded. He said that the task of drilling through the debris is difficult but efforts are being undertaken relentlessly.
According to the SEOC, of the 206 persons reported missing initially, the number of missing persons now stands at 174 with 32 bodies having been recovered.
Wednesday, 10 February 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
