Uttarkashi: A race against time unfolds in Uttarkashi as 40 workers got trapped following the collapse of an under-construction tunnel. The situation is critical, with a daunting 35 meters of debris obstructing rescue efforts. On the third day, Uttarakhand government constituted six-member expert committee to investigate the tunnel accident.
As the rescue operation is underway after a portion of a tunnel under construction between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed in the early hours of Sunday, National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) said water, food, oxygen and electricity are available with the workers trapped inside the runnel.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday visited the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel site to review the rescue operations being carried out as nearly 40 workers are still feared trapped.
“Respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji has also assured all possible assistance from the central government, SDRF, NDRF, and state administration teams are engaged in relief and resuce operations with full force”, wrote CM Dhami as he posted pictures from the tunnel.
NHIDCL said that while removal of loose muck continues along with shotcreting (concrete spraying) inside the tunnel, the strategy is to push inside a steel pipe of 900 mm diameter with the help of a hydraulic jack to evacuate the trapped workers.