Part of 2nd Head Race Tunnel of Subansiri Project collapses; one worker dies

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: The controversial Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project (SLHP) with 2,000 MW installed capacity, constructed by NHPC Limited at Gerukamukh under the Dhemaji district in the Assam-Arunachal border area, is once again in headlines with an untoward incident taking place at the project site.

On Monday, a part of the 2nd Head Race Tunnel (intake structure) of the project collapsed suddenly. As a result of it, a worker died at the spot as per report received. The deceased person has been identified as Jitu Hatibaruah, resident of Parbatipur of Gerukamukh area under Gogamukh Police Station. Sources said that Jitu Hatibaruah was working in the tunnel at that time. It is known that he had been working in the project under Patel Engineering which had bagged an order worth Rs 1,564.42 crore to build Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project. The main components of the project included construction of 8 Head Race Tunnel (HRT) intake structures; construction of 8 numbers of 9.5 meter diameter horseshoe shaped Head Race Tunnels with length varying from 610 metre to 1170 metre.

Vipin Gupta, the Executive Director of the project said that a big stone (bolder) suddenly fell upon Jitu while he had been performing welding work. The other workers had fortunately a narrow escape. Then he was admitted to NHPC Hospital at Gerukamukh. Later he was shifted to Dhemaji Civil Hospital.

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