Aug 14, Kathmandu - In the mountainous state of Uttarakhand, India, a construction tunnel collapsed with water and debris, resulting in the death of at least seven workers and injuring 13 others. Authorities confirmed that three workers remain missing following the accident that occurred Thursday night.

The incident took place at a tunnel under construction for a government-operated hydroelectric project. According to the Uttarakhand Disaster Management Authority, 19 workers have been rescued from the site operated by the Tehri Hydro Electric Corporation. The injured are currently receiving medical treatment.

Local officials shared visuals showing rescue teams using temporary rafts equipped with headlamps to navigate the water-filled tunnel and search for survivors. The search for the missing workers is ongoing.

Heavy monsoon rains in Uttarakhand in recent days have intensified natural disasters such as floods and landslides, posing increased risks to roads, settlements, and construction sites in the region. Experts have warned that unplanned and excessive development in fragile Himalayan terrain is heightening the risk of such calamities.

India has seen frequent construction accidents in recent years. Environmentalists have cautioned that uncontrolled development in the delicate Himalayan region significantly raises the danger of natural disasters, especially amid climate change.

Last month, in the remote northeastern state of Sikkim, 20 workers lost their lives during the construction of another hydroelectric tunnel. Earlier in 2023, a tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand trapped 41 workers inside for 17 days before they were rescued after a lengthy operation.

Since the onset of the monsoon season in June, hundreds of lives have been lost across India due to floods and landslides. Experts attribute the increasing frequency, intensity, and impact of such disasters to climate change and poorly managed development projects.