Chamoli tunnel accident death toll rises to 10 as two more bodies recovered

The death toll from the tunnel accident at the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydroelectric project in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, rose to 10 on 18 August 2026 after rescue teams recovered two more bodies.

The workers were trapped on the evening of 13 August when a landslide sent debris and water into the three-kilometre tunnel where they were concreting the lining. Twenty-two people were inside at the time. Twelve were rescued with injuries. Earlier recoveries had brought the confirmed deaths to eight before the two additional bodies were found on Tuesday.

The two workers recovered on 18 August were identified as Chetan Poyam from Chhattisgarh and Lukas Topno from Jharkhand. They were employed by Hindustan Construction Company.

Chamoli District Disaster Management Officer N.K. Joshi said the bodies were found during ongoing search operations and sent to the district hospital in Gopeshwar for identification. One worker is still missing. Search teams continue to work in difficult conditions amid sludge and debris. Three of five JCB machines trapped inside the tunnel have been recovered, which has helped speed the search.

The state government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the accident.