Ranchi: A worker from East SInghbhum was killed, five others were injured and another was trapped after a massive landslide triggered a deadly flood inside an under-construction tunnel at the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district on Thursday night. The deceased was identified as Vijay Hansda, 28, a resident of Palsabani village.State information and public relations department (IPRD) said in a statement that Habil Gudiya, 27, Nistar Bhingra 24, and Dina Begra, 26, all from Khunti district, sustained minor injuries. Vinod Ravna, 46, of Gumla suffered a fracture in his right leg, while Khela Ram Bisra, 22, of East Singhbhum sustained grievous injuries. All five are undergoing treatment at hospitals in Uttarakhand.The department said formalities for bringing Hansda’s body back to Jharkhand had been completed in coordination with his family and the company. The body was being sent to his village.One of the three workers trapped inside the tunnel is from Jharkhand, the department said. Initial information identified him as Lukas Topno of Khunti. Rescue operations were continuing on a war footing, it added.Jharkhand govt launched two helpline numbers for families of workers employed at the project. CM Hemant Soren directed the state migrant control cell and labour minister Sanjay Prasad Yadav to coordinate with Uttarakhand authorities.Hemant also spoke to his Uttarakhand counterpart Pushkar Singh Dhami, who assured him that all possible efforts were being made to rescue the trapped workers. In an X post, Hemant said, “The repeated accidents in under-construction tunnels and workers getting trapped deeply distress the heart. Development is essential but in harmony with respect for nature and environmental balance.”
