CM Dhami inspects THDC tunnel rescue operation
Garhwal Post Bureau
Gopeshwar (Chamoli), 14 Aug: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached the site of the under-construction THDC tunnel at Mayapur in Peepalkoti this morning despite inclement weather and inspected the ongoing rescue and relief operations following the incident of debris and water entering the tunnel. The CM took stock of the progress of the rescue operation at the spot and sought detailed information from the officials and the rescue teams. He also entered the tunnel to personally assess the rescue and relief operations and interacted with the teams engaged in the challenging operation.
The incident occurred late last evening in the TRT tunnel of THDC’s Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project. The tunnel is around three k.m. long, and debris and water entered a section at around 1.50 k.m. due to subsidence, creating a challenging situation for the rescue teams.
Dhami directed the officials to accord the highest priority to the rescue operation and make effective use of all the available resources, equipment and technical expertise. He ordered that close coordination be maintained among all the teams engaged in the operation, including the NDRF, SDRF, ITBP and police, and that every possible effort be made to safely evacuate the remaining three persons trapped inside the tunnel.
DM Gaurav Kumar briefed the CM in detail about the incident, the rescue operations carried out so far and the relief and rescue arrangements at the site. He informed Dhami that 19 of the 22 persons trapped inside the tunnel had so far been rescued, while the search and rescue operation for the remaining three persons was continuing. Seven persons have so far been reported to have died in the incident. He was informed that the injured persons rescued from the tunnel have been brought to the District Hospital, Gopeshwar, where teams of the Health Department and doctors are providing treatment and continuously monitoring their condition.
Dhami also directed the officials to ensure that there is no lapse not only in the rescue operation but also in the treatment of the injured, assistance to the families of those trapped and other necessary arrangements at the site. He stressed on the need for continuous coordination with the rescue teams and directed that the operation be carried out with utmost seriousness, caution and preparedness.
Cabinet Minister and district in-charge minister Bharat Chaudhary, Tharali MLA Bhupal Ram Tamta, Zila Panchayat president Daulat Singh Bisht, Minister of State ranked Harak Singh, former Cabinet Minister Rajendra Bhandari, Nagar Panchayat chairperson Aarti Navani, councillor Raja Joshi, Disaster Management Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman, Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swarup, IG Garhwal Rajiv Swarup and SP Surjit Singh Panwar were among those present during the inspection.
