Rescue efforts resume in Tapovan dam tunnel

Rescue operations at the NTPC’s Tapovan hydel project tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, where about 35 workers were trapped after a snow avalanche triggered flash floods on Sunday, continued

There was, however, a brief halt due to reports of an increase in the water level of Dhauliganga river, on which the project is built. With two more bodies being recovered, the toll in the accident has risen to 36.

Joint rescue team “The joint team has now resumed work inside the tunnel. Earlier, following information about a rise in the water level, we had taken some precautionary measures for about an hour,” said an official.

Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla chaired a meeting to review the progress of the rescue and relief work.

“Secretary, Defence Research and Development Organisation, has been asked to depute experts for analysis of the situation and for taking appropriate remedial measures in coordination with the Central and State agencies,” said a Ministry statement.

In the early hours of Thursday, the team started a drilling operation to peep into an interlinked silt tunnel, in the hope of establishing contact with the trapped workers.

The joint team had been clearing sludge and debris from the main project tunnel for the past four days, but was not able to reach the T-junction where workers are suspected to be trapped.

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Tapovan dam tunnel:

  • Tapovan Hydro-Electric Power Dam, also known as Rishi Ganga Project was completely washed off following a glacier burst in the Chamoli district, said the Indian Air Force’s initial report as Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) deployed at Joshimath has undertaken recce of affected areas.
  • “The dam is called Tapovan Hydro-Electric Power Dam. It is on the confluence of Dhauli Ganga and Rishi Ganga.
  • As per the recce Tapovan dam also called Rishi Ganga Project has been completely washed off,”.
  • It said that two bridges at the entrance of Malari valley and near Tapovan are also washed away, while the main road between Joshimath to Tapovan is intact.
  • “Construction work and hutments on valley bottom are damaged. Rubble was seen from the entrance of Nanda Devi glacier till as down as Pipalkoti and Chamoli along Dhauliganga and Alaknanda,”.

 

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