Bodies of All 3 Missing Workers Recovered from Pipalkoti Tunnel, Rescue Operation Concludes
By Sunil Negi
CHAMOLI | 18 August 2026
In a major breakthrough in the ongoing rescue operation, the bodies of all three workers missing since the accident in the under-construction THDC tunnel at Mayapur-Pipalkoti were recovered on Tuesday.
The incident had taken place on 13 August in Chamoli district.
Since the accident, joint teams of SDRF and NDRF had been carrying out continuous search and rescue operations inside the tunnel. The teams were conducting intensive searches at probable locations inside the tunnel filled with water and debris.
Despite challenging conditions, the rescue teams continued the operation with full coordination and technical equipment. Two more bodies were recovered during the search on Tuesday. One body had already been recovered earlier.
SDRF Team In-charge Inspector Karan Singh confirmed that the bodies of all three missing persons have been recovered from the tunnel. The bodies have been sent to the District Hospital, Gopeshwar for necessary legal formalities and post-mortem.
With the recovery of the bodies, the search operation that was underway since the accident has now been completed.
The accident has once again raised serious questions about the safety of workers and rescue arrangements in under-construction tunnels.
Local residents and worker unions have demanded strict enforcement of safety norms in such projects and a dedicated rapid-response rescue system for emergencies in hilly construction sites.
