Efforts to assist workers continued on the second day after communication was established inside the collapsed section of an under-construction tunnel and oxygen was pumped through a water pipe.
Rescue operations continued on Monday at an under-construction road tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi to evacuate 40 labourers trapped inside since Sunday morning following its partial collapse.
Personnel from multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), have been engaged in the operation.
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Here is all you need to know about the incident:
WHERE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED?
A portion of the tunnel being built between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway caved in on Sunday morning. Several workers were trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel.
Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police, Arpan Yaduvanshi said a part of the Silkyara Tunnel has broken about 200 meters ahead of the starting point, trapping many workers.
SILKYARA TUNNEL
The tunnel is a crucial part of the Char Dham all-weather road project which started in 2016. This project is a flagship initiative of the Central government aimed at expanding the highway infrastructure in Uttarakhand. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 12,000 crore.
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HOW MANY WORKERS ARE TRAPPED?
Of the 40 workers trapped inside the tunnel, 15 are from Jharkhand, 8 from Uttar Pradesh, 3 from West Bengal, 5 from Odisha, 2 each from Uttarakhand and Himachal and 4 are from Bihar.
Rescue operation teams have established communication with workers using radio handsets along with supplying oxygen, water and food. Those trapped inside have sent out signals to the teams that indicate they are safe, an official at the site said.
“The situation is better now. The workers are safe. We are providing food and water. There are nearly 40 people inside. We are trying our best,” said Anshu Manish Khalko, the director of NHIDCL (National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited).
Ranjit Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Disaster Management, Uttarakhand, said “Our first priority is to save the people who are trapped under the debris. We have been able to supply them with food, water and oxygen. We are hoping to rescue them by tomorrow night or the day after.”
VIDEO | “Our first priority is to save the people who are trapped under the debris. We have been able to supply them with food, water and oxygen. We are hoping to rescue them by tomorrow night or the day after,” says Ranjit Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Disaster Management, Uttarakhand… pic.twitter.com/HA0iAxGo44— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 13, 2023
WHAT IS THE PROGRESS IN RESCUE OPERATION?
NDRF and SDRF teams are using large excavators and heavy machines to remove the debris from the collapsed section.
VIDEO | Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: “We are moving ahead slowly. We have drilled 10 to 15 metre till now, but we still need to drill 30 to 40 metre (to rescue those who are trapped inside),” says an official.#Uttarkashitunnelcollapse pic.twitter.com/w8m8oJS96h— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 13, 2023
The relief and rescue work is underway on a war footing to save those trapped inside. A rescue official said they needed to drill 30-40 meters to to able to save them.
CM DHAMI REACHES SPOT
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami reached the spot and assured the families to make every effort to rescue the trapped workers.
VIDEO | Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: “Rescue operation is underway. The Prime Minister is also monitoring the situation regularly. We are trying the best to rescue those who are trapped,” says Uttarakhand CM @pushkardhami.#Uttkarshitunnelcollapse pic.twitter.com/ZycjdKz7HC— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 13, 2023
Dhami inspected the site here along with officials and discussed the strategy being followed for the safe rescue of the trapped workers. He asked the officials and multiple agencies engaged in the rescue operations inside the under-construction tunnel to work with coordination and inform the administration immediately of their requirements in terms of resources.
All resources and technical help will be provided to them as soon as possible, Dhami said. All options are being tried for the safe rescue of the trapped workers and large diametre hume pipes are being transported to the project site from Haridwar and Dehradun, he said.
Talking to reporters after inspecting the site, Dhami said all agencies are working tirelessly for the safe rescue of trapped workers. “Safely rescuing the trapped workers is our priority. Rescue operation is being carried out expeditiously. I want to assure the families of the trapped labourers that they will be safely rescued soon,” Dhami said.
The Centre and the state government are working together for the safe exit of the trapped labourers, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken a detailed update on the rescue operations and assured of all possible help, he said.
(With PTI inputs)
