CHAMOLI: A massive boulder suddenly fell from the hillside onto the Innova car of Garhwal (Pauri) MP Anil Baluni near Totaghati while he was on his way to assess the situation following the tunnel accident in Chamoli district’s Pipalkoti.MP Anil Baluni and everyone else in the vehicle narrowly escaped the incident; fortunately, no one sustained serious injuries.According to reports, MP Baluni was traveling to conduct an on-site inspection of the area affected by the Pipalkoti tunnel accident and to inquire about the well-being of the victims.As his vehicle reached the Totaghati stretch of the Rishikesh-Badrinath National Highway, debris and a large boulder suddenly fell onto his Innova.Although the vehicle was damaged by the impact of the boulder, all the passengers inside remained safe.The said incident comes a day after a major accident at an under-construction THDC tunnel at Mayapur in Pipalkoti, Chamoli.A landslide caused water and debris to enter the tunnel, trapping 22 workers.The incident occurred after debris and water entered an under-construction tunnel of THDC’s Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project.Seven workers were killed, while 19 of the 22 people trapped inside the tunnel were rescued and taken to Gopeshwar District Hospital.Meanwhile, Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inspected the accident site at Mayapur in Pipalkoti on Friday and reviewed the ongoing rescue operation.He entered the tunnel and received updates from the rescue teams.Dhami later visited the District Hospital and met workers injured in the Chamoli tunnel accident.He enquired about their condition and reviewed the medical arrangements for their treatment.Dhami directed medical teams to ensure there was no lapse in treatment and that all necessary care was provided to the rescued workers.He also directed officials to ensure that families affected by the incident receive all necessary assistance.Chamoli was placed under a yellow alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms on August 14. All districts are expected to remain under a yellow alert on August 15, while Chamoli will again be under a yellow alert on August 16.Officials have warned that intense rainfall could trigger landslides, falling boulders, road blockages, waterlogging and rising river and stream levels. The State Emergency Operations Centre has asked districts to remain on alert and strengthen preparedness in vulnerable areas.The weather warning comes days after a Bailey bridge over the Tamak drain beyond Malari in Chamoli was swept away following a strong surge of water. The incident disrupted traffic and left a BRO vehicle and its driver missing, prompting a search operation.Around 15 to 16 villages were located on the other side of the damaged bridge, with authorities working to restore connectivity and essential services.SDRF, NDRF, police and district administration teams were deployed at the site.
