A rescue worker trying to retrieve the body of a worker washed out from the tunnel where 15 men are trapped at the Ghatghar hydel power project, on Wednesday. — Photo: Vivek Bendre

MUMBAI: Two bodies have been flushed out from a tunnel at the Ghatgar Hydel Power Project about 125 km from Mumbai. At least 15 workers were trapped and feared killed after a landslip blocked the tunnel and diverted the water flow on Tuesday evening. Naval divers will continue the rescue operation and are expected to fish out more bodies.

Following unprecedented heavy rainfall measuring up to 260 mm in a day in the affected area, a huge rock formation, measuring more than one km in length and around 100 to 400 metres in breadthrolled down on one of the tunnels near the lower level water reservoir.

As the chunks of boulders, trees, crashed at the mouth of the Tail Race Tank, the water flow, which is supposed to circulate from the lower reservoir to the upper one, diverted and rushed in.

The water also entered the Machine Hall, where the turbines are located, said Executive Engineer on the project, S.N. Kulkarni.

There were 62 labourers working inside the tunnel at the time of the accident. However, most of them managed to rush out through the emergency exit located at a greater height and another tunnel. Even the Japanese consultants at the site managed to escape. However, workers near the tunnel where the water gushed in could not escape. These included at least six women.

Collector Nandkumar Jantre and Thane rural SP Archana Tyagi were at the site. Speaking to the media, they said rescue of the remaining persons was most important and they would be taking the help of naval divers.

Additional SP Sharad Shelar said the Navy divers were at the site and the rescue operation would now be expedited.

At the entrance of the tunnel, efforts were on to clear the way. However, the strong current of water, incessant rain, loose soil were making it difficult for the rescue teams to even pull out a visible body, let alone go into the tunnel.

"Our relatives are inside, even if they manage to climb up and above the water level, how long will they survive inside. It will be impossible to save anyone," said Sonavane Bahudharma, a worker. Labourers who had escaped were crowding around the tunnel to see if anything could be done. "Some of us just rushed out as we heard the noise. But now even the police or fire brigade cannot go in. They should take the help of the locals also. It will be too late to wait till the water recedes," said Janardan Harne. Most of these labourers work for private contractors. While many are from nearby villages, including Gandulwadi and Angluj, there are a few from Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Chattisgarh. The two dead were identified as Shivcharan Verma and Motiram Singh.

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