Chamoli, 19 August (H.S.): The death toll in the tunnel accident at the under-construction Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project in Hat-Siyasain, Mayapur (Pipalkoti) in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district rose to 11 on Wednesday after an injured worker succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh.

The deceased worker has been identified as Rohit. He had been receiving treatment at AIIMS Rishikesh after sustaining injuries in the accident and died during treatment on Wednesday morning.

According to a press release issued by the State Emergency Operation Centre on Wednesday, the accident occurred on August 13 after water and debris entered the under-construction tunnel. Following the incident, a large-scale search and rescue operation was launched to evacuate workers trapped inside the tunnel.

Teams from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the Army and other rescue agencies participated in the operation. Several workers were rescued safely and subsequently admitted to hospitals for treatment. With Rohit's death, the number of fatalities has now risen to 11.

The search and rescue operation, which continued for nearly 117 hours following the accident at the THDC India Limited's Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project tunnel in Mayapur, Pipalkoti, was completed on Tuesday.

Several workers had become trapped inside the tunnel after water seepage and landslides caused the accident. A total of 12 workers were initially rescued safely from the tunnel. Rohit was among those rescued but later succumbed to his injuries at AIIMS Rishikesh on Wednesday morning.

The accident has claimed the lives of 11 workers so far, while the authorities have concluded the extensive rescue operation after nearly five days of efforts to locate and evacuate those trapped inside the tunnel.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar