Six Workers Die in Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse; Monsoon Session Ends Amid Political Turmoil

At least six workers were killed and 14 others injured on Thursday (August 13, 2026) after water and debris entered an under-construction tunnel at a hydroelectric project site in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. According to preliminary information from officials, 22 workers were trapped inside the tunnel when the incident occurred. Rescue teams have brought 20 people out so far, of whom six were declared dead and 14 are undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. The status of the remaining two workers was not immediately available, officials said.

The tunnel is part of a hydroelectric project in the Himalayan state, which is prone to landslides and flash floods. Rescue operations continued through the day, with efforts focused on locating the two missing workers. The district administration has ordered an inquiry into the incident. This is the latest in a series of accidents at infrastructure sites in Uttarakhand, raising questions about safety protocols in the region.

In political developments, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge stepped up their attack on the central government on Thursday. Speaking at the national convention of Rachnatmak Congress, a wing of the party that engages with civil society activists and organisations, Gandhi described the BJP-RSS as a “bunch of jokers” and mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of foreign policy as being reduced to “hugging world leaders.” He called it “ignorance” to believe that foreign policy is merely about embracing heads of state.

Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of avoiding the Opposition in Parliament for 20 days. He said that being a “Modi bhakt” will not help the country and urged the government to engage constructively with the Opposition. The Congress leaders’ remarks were made on the final day of the Monsoon Session, which saw significant disruptions and low productivity.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded sharply to Gandhi’s comments. Education Minister Pralhad Joshi said Gandhi had used “uncultured, crude, and vulgar language” against the Prime Minister. “When will you grow up?” Joshi asked, adding that running India requires mature leadership, not “amateur dramatics.” He said that calling a democratically elected government “jokers and clowns” proves that Gandhi is “out of his depth.”

The Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded on Thursday with much of its time lost to disruptions. According to official data, only 12 Bills were passed, with detailed debate taking place on just one — the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, also known as the anti-paper leak legislation. During the entire session, only two questions were answered orally in the Lok Sabha and 16 in the Rajya Sabha. The Opposition, however, maintained a united front and pushed back against several legislations, including the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).

In another development, the Bar Council of India (BCI) issued a direction on Thursday to all State Bar Councils not to enrol students who graduated from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, in 2026 — but withdrew the order within hours. The initial communication had halted the graduates’ enrolment pending an inquiry into a recent student campaign opposing the proposed participation of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant in the university’s convocation. The BCI’s reversal came after the directive drew criticism from legal fraternity and academic circles.

Ahead of the 80th Independence Day celebrations, officials announced that the national song “Vande Mataram” will be rendered at the Red Fort for the first time on August 15. The event will commemorate 150 years of the song and highlight the contribution of young Indians to the country’s journey towards “Viksit Bharat@2047”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the celebrations, with Gen Z and “Yuva Shakti” taking centre stage, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.