Uttarakhand glacier burst: Trapped workers up against hypothermia, dipping oxygen

TAPOVAN/DEHRADUN: Hope at the other end of the tunnel is keeping over 500 rescue personnel going at the Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel project in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. As they race against time to rescue over 34 workers believed to be stuck in the 1.6-km-long debris-filled tunnel, their biggest concern is hypothermia – a potentially dangerous drop in body temperature.

Meanwhile, the search and rescue teams recovered six more bodies on Tuesday from downstream areas taking the total toll of the tragedy to 32, while 174 people are still reported missing.

While conditions in the area remain chilly, the slush-filled tunnel, experts say, could be much colder. Vivek Pandey, spokesperson of ITBP, said, “The rescue teams are working round the clock and tirelessly to save the trapped workers. However, our immediate concern is about the workers getting hypothermia, which can be fatal in such conditions.”

Pandey said the trapped workers have one JCB and two light vehicles with them inside the tunnel, which might come in handy for them to take shelter in.

The 25-foot-high and 25-foot-wide headrace tunnel – a structure that carries water to the power generators – was completely filled with debris when the rescue operations began on Sunday. It has become partially filled with slush again after they cleared the passage, which is hampering rescue operations.

What gives hope to the rescue teams is the fact that the tunnel takes a sharp 90-degree-bend to the left after 180 metres, where the slush may have subsided.

On the growing concern of depleting oxygen levels inside the tunnel, an ITBP official at the spot said, “There is an opening on top of the tunnel where workers are believed to be stuck. We are hoping that there are adequate levels of oxygen which can help people survive till we reach them.”

Sanjay Singh, deputy commandant, ITBP, told TOI, “So far, we have been able to reach approximately 120 metres. The challenge of the rescue operation is the slush which is continuously flowing into the tunnel while we are trying to remove it.”

Another team from the Indian Army had used ropes to go down on the other side of the tunnel to see if there were any bodies stuck under the grille. However, nothing was found during the search.

Uttarakhand director general of police (DGP) Ashok Kumar said, “As the rescue teams are clearing the slush and proceeding ahead, more slush and water is coming to them, making the whole process slow and difficult.”