Kathmandu— At least seven construction workers were killed and thirteen others injured after a tunnel accident at a state-run hydropower project in Uttarakhand, northern India, late Thursday evening. Water and debris surged into the tunnel following a landslide, trapping those working inside. A rescue operation is currently underway to reach three workers who remain missing.

Rescue Efforts Underway

Chief Minister of Uttarakhand state Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that a “war-like rescue operation” is in progress to safely evacuate any remaining workers trapped within the tunnel. Videos released by local authorities depict rescue teams utilizing headlamps and makeshift rafts to navigate the flooded section of the tunnel. Amrit Lal Meena, commander of the National Disaster Response Force team, explained that upon arrival at the site, a significant amount of water was already present inside the tunnel, with additional seepage occurring from the sides, causing the water level to rise considerably.

Recent History of Tunnel Accidents

This incident marks the latest in a series of tunnel-related accidents in India. Last month, twenty workers were killed while constructing another state-run hydroelectric project in Sikkim. In 2023, a similar event in Uttarakhand captured national attention when forty-one workers were successfully rescued after being trapped for seventeen days inside a collapsed tunnel.

Monsoon Rains and Ecological Concerns

Uttarakhand has experienced heavy monsoon rains recently, contributing to the conditions that led to the landslide. Experts suggest that climate change, combined with poorly planned development projects in the fragile Himalayan region, is increasing both the frequency and severity of these disasters. Ecologists have voiced concerns that excessive construction is exacerbating risks in vulnerable areas.

Rescue teams continue to work diligently to locate and extract the remaining missing workers as authorities assess the full extent of the damage and investigate the cause of the landslide.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.