NEW DELHI: Part of an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand collapsed on November 12, trapping 41 workers inside. Rescue operations to pull out the workers were undertaken following the incident.
While teams left no stones unturned to bring the trapped men out, challenges came their way one after the other.
Reports state that the collapse may have been caused by a geological fault, known as a “shear zone”. There was reportedly no escape passage despite government guidelines recommending emergency exits for tunnels over 1.5 km in length.
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What happens after the men are rescued?
*A 41-bed hospital has been readied at the Community Health Centre in Chinyalisaur for medical examination and care of trapped workers after they are evacuated from the Silkyara tunnel.
*Rescue workers said the workers would go through a detailed medical examination once they reached the hospital.
*After completing the rescue operations, our focus will shift to conducting comprehensive investigations to identify construction shortcomings, an official said.
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*There were around 30 ambulances on site to take the injured workers to the hospital. Ambulances were seen moving towards the mouth of the tunnel entrance, preparing to receive the men who have been trapped since a portion of the under-construction tunnel in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand collapsed.
*A green corridor has also been made for the ambulances to carry rescued workers.
*A Chinook helicopter was also present at Chinyalisaur airstrip to airlift the workers after their rescue from the tunnel.
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*Rescue teams were seen in photos smiling and flashing victory signs as the drilling ended through concrete and rubble.
*Stretchers have been specially fitted with wheels to pull the exhausted men out through 57 metres (187 feet) of steel pipe.
*The government said it has also ordered the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to audit 29 tunnels being constructed across India.
