Two dead, 12 hurt in mishap at Dul Hasti

Though NHPC has initiated a internal inquiry, the police are looking at it whether sub-standard materials were used. However, sources say it was the “squeezing in” that caused the approach tunnel to the Head Race Tunnel (HRT) to cave in. “’After charging the HRT, the labourers were retrieving pipes and other electric equipment from the adit tunnel when concrete material from its roof broke off,” said NHPC Executive Director S C Gupta, adding that the main HRT was intact.

The hydel project on river Chenab near Kishtwar (Doda) had been in controversy ever since the French consortium Domez Sogia Boresea stopped work midway after the abduction of one of its engineer in 1992. Four years later, NHPC engaged Jai Parkash Industries to execute the civil works and at that time, the project was estimated to be commissioned by October 2003 at a cost of Rs 4,000 crore. Now, the project cost has increased to Rs 5,000 crore, with NHPC authorities expecting to complete it by March.

Senior SP, Doda, Manohar Singh said, “We have registered the case into the incident and are probing whether the incident happened due to the use of the sub-standard material for the construction of the tunnel. We are also finding out that whether there was any negligence on part of the officials.”

The Minister for Power Nawang Rigzin Jora, and Minister of State for Power Peer Muhammad Hussain, have expressed their deep shock and anguish over the tragic accident. The collapse of tunnel evoked strong reactions from various workers unions, with Pardeep Singh Parihar, vice president of the Indian National Trade Union Congress and Javaid Zargar, general secretary of the Chenab Hydro Power Projects Workers Union at Dul Hasti