By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
The search for two workers who are still untraceable after a tunnel of THDC’s 444 Mw Pipalkoti-Vishnugad hydel project collapsed in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district continued on Sunday even as a magisterial inquiry was ordered, top officials said on Sunday.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), police and other agencies have been carrying out an intensive search operation since the accident on August 13. The rescuers are being assisted by sniffer dogs to trace the missing workers — Lucas Topno of Jharkhand and Chetan Poyam of Chhattisgarh. One body was found on Saturday that took the death toll to eight. Twelve workers were injured in the disaster. THDC has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of the kins of the deceased.
Officials said water continues to accumulate inside the tunnel and is being continuously pumped out to facilitate access to the affected areas as rescue teams are also working to remove machinery and heavy obstructions trapped inside the tunnel.
Modern equipment and technical resources are being used to clear the debris and obstructions. Rescue personnel are carefully checking even the smallest gaps and all possible locations inside the affected portion of the tunnel, leaving no potential area unchecked in the search for the missing workers.
The accident occurred at the THDC India Ltd’s Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydropower project tunnel on Thursday evening, when landslides caused debris and water to enter the tunnel.
Chamoli District Magistrate Gaurav Kumar said a magisterial inquiry has been ordered to conduct a detailed investigation into the circumstances and causes of the accident. Necessary action will be taken in accordance with the findings of the inquiry, he said.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Madan Kaushik reviewed the disaster management, relief and rehabilitation operations in Gopeshwar on Sunday. The meeting began with a tribute to the workers who lost their lives in the tunnel accident, followed by a two-minute silence.
Kaushik took an update on the progress of the rescue operation and directed officials to ensure all possible assistance to the affected workers and their families. He also met workers and listened to their concerns, assuring them that their problems would be addressed.
The rescue operation is continuing with authorities maintaining close coordination among the various agencies involved, while efforts remain focused on locating the two missing workers.