A devastating landslide in India’s Himalayan state of Uttarakhand has left at least seven construction workers dead and 13 others injured. The accident occurred late Thursday when heavy rains triggered a surge of water and debris that flooded a tunnel site managed by the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation. While 19 workers were successfully pulled from the wreckage, authorities are still searching for three individuals who remain missing amidst the difficult conditions. Local footage has captured the intense rescue efforts, showing crews navigating the flooded, darkened tunnel using makeshift rafts and headlamps.

This incident marks yet another disaster in the region, which has been severely impacted by intense monsoon rainfall this season. While construction accidents are unfortunately frequent in India, many environmental experts are raising alarms about the ecological fragility of the Himalayas, arguing that aggressive, poorly planned development is making these areas increasingly dangerous. With similar fatal collapses occurring in Sikkim and Uttarakhand in recent years, there is a growing consensus that the combination of climate change and rapid industrial expansion is heightening the frequency and severity of these deadly catastrophes.