No trace of bodies at NEEPCO burst site at Kopili hydropower station

At least four officials, who were feared trapped inside a pump house after a pipeline burst at Kopili hydropower station in Assam's Dima Hasao district, remained untraced even after twelve days of the accident. The incident had occurred on October 7.

Guwahati (Assam): Rescue work at the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Ltd (NEEPCO) disaster site is on to search the four trapped officials. Even after 12 days, dead bodies have yet not been recovered.

A pipeline burst at the Kopili hydropower station at Umrangsu in Assam’s Dima Hasao district on October 7 had led to massive flooding and created a water fountain that rose several hundred feet into the sky.

According to sources, the iron pipeline was damaged as it came in contact with acidic water.

Altogether 800m of the project area were effected.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Abrasive jet machining (AJM) spokesperson, Tularam Gogoi said, "Kopili hydropower station failed in power production because there was a leakage in the pipe. The leakage was since the beginning but the government never ordered any inquiry. I appeal to the government to order an inquiry for all projects of NEEPCO."

The rescue operation began on October 7 by a joint team of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force.

The pipeline carries water at 12,000 litres/second from the Neepco’s Umrong reservoir to the project site.