Chamoli tunnel accident: Another worker's body found, death toll reaches nine
Rescue teams have recovered another body from a flooded tunnel at the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydroelectric project in Chamoli, bringing the death toll to nine. Search operations continue for one remaining missing worker despite challenging conditions caused by sludge and debris.
Why it matters
The incident raises critical questions regarding safety protocols and disaster management in large-scale infrastructure projects in mountainous regions.
The body of a worker trapped when water flooded into a tunnel five days ago was found on Tuesday (August 18, 2026), taking to nine the death toll from the accident at the hydropower project.
Another worker remains missing, officials said. Twenty-two people were caught in the three-kilometre tunnel, part of the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation's Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydroelectric project, when a landslide led to debris and water flooding in on August 13.
Chamoli District Disaster Management Officer N.K. Joshi said that the body was found during the ongoing search operation conducted by various agencies following the accident on the evening of August 13. He added that the body has been sent to the district hospital in Gopeshwar, administrative headquarters of the Chamoli district, and efforts were on for its identification.
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