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Nearly 40 labourers trapped as under-construction tunnel collapses in Uttarkashi
The rescue teams have inserted a pipe through the debris to give oxygen to the labourers trapped in the collapsed under-construction road tunnel
Nearly 40 labourers are feared to be trapped as a portion of the under-construction tunnel from Silkyara to Dandalgaon on the Yamunotri National Highway (NH) in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi collapsed on Sunday.
The Uttarkashi district administration officials have released the names of the trapped labourers, most of whom belong to Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar and West Bengal.
Around 160 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), police and revenue department were pressed into the service to evacuate the trapped labourers safely.
Vertical drilling and earth moving machines were being arranged to cut through the debris, the authorities said.
According to officials, even though oxygen was available to the trapped labourers, they have also inserted an oxygen pipe through the debris.
Meanwhile, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said he was monitoring the situation and was in constant touch with the Uttarkashi district officials.
Dhami said, “I have received news of collapse of a part of the tunnel under-construction between Silkyara-Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi. Rescue operation is underway to evacuate all trapped workers safely. I have spoken to the district magistrate (DM) and instructed him to speed up the rescue operation.”
The total length of the tunnel, being constructed between Silkayara and Barkot by Navayuga Engineering Company Limited under the supervision of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), is 4533 metres. The collapsed portion is 35 metres. With the construction of this all-weather tunnel under the Char Dham Road Project, the journey from Uttarkashi to Yamunotri Dham will be reduced by 26 kilometres.
According to NHIDCL officials, of the 4,533 metres of the tunnel to be constructed, 2,340 metres tunnel have been constructed from Silkayara end and 1,600 metres have been constructed from the Barkot end. The tunnel to be constructed is 400 metres.
Devendra Patwal, Uttarkashi district disaster management officer (DDMO), said, “We received information from the NHIDCL about the incident at 8.45am. As per the information from NHIDCL officials, the incident occurred at a distance of 270 m from the entrance of the tunnel from the Silkayara end. The debris has piled up in the 30-metre portion of the tunnel.”
He said 35 to 40 workers have been trapped in the tunnel due to the incident and efforts were on remove the
“We are in constant coordination with other authorities like THDC which is taking necessary steps and supplying a drill machine required in the rescue operation from Chinyalisaur. Jal Sansthan too have sent a drilling machine. Two JCB machines have been arranged from the PWD,” he said.
Among the other necessary efforts, Chinyalisaur helipad has been activated, health personnel and four ambulances have been stationed at the entrance of the tunnel, officials said.
Lalita Negi, SDRF media in charge, said, “We had dispatched our teams from the local outposts after receiving the information about the incident. Our rescue operation is on at a war footing.”
Uttarkashi superintendent of police (SP) Arpan Yaduvanshi said, “A total of 36 labourers are trapped inside the tunnel. NDRF, SDRF, and police teams are engaged in the rescue operation. It is underway at a war footing. Even though oxygen was available to the trapped labourers, they have also inserted an additional oxygen pipe through the debris.”
