Uttarkashi road tunnel collapse highlights: Rescue operations to continue overnight

Devendra Patwal, Uttarkashi's district disaster management officer adds that officials are trying to create an escape passage to evacuate the trapped labourers in the tunnel.

According to the officials, the rescue operation will continue overnight.

“Efforts to remove debris with drilling machines, JCBs and evacuate trapped labourers is underway,” says Devendra Patwal, Uttarkashi district disaster management officer.

Reacting to the incident of Uttarkashi tunnel collapse , CM Pushkar Dhami said that he was monitoring the situation closely. “Rescue operation is being conducted by the teams of SDRF, NDRF and local police administration to evacuate all the workers safely. After talking to the District Magistrate in this matter, instructions have been given to speed up the rescue mission. I am also monitoring the rescue operation,” CM Dhami posted on X earlier.

Uttarkashi district administration officials on Sunday said that 40 labourers were trapped in the under-construction tunnel. They also released the names of the trapped labourers most of whom belong to Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar and West Bengal.

Uttarkashi District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela on Sunday said that the priority of the administration is to evacuate workers trapped inside the under-construction tunnel which caved in the previous night, and that the rescue operations are being conducted on war footing.

At least 36 workers are feared to be trapped inside the tunnel that collapsed on the Yamunotri National Highway here in Uttarkashi district.

News of breakage of a part of the tunnel under construction between Silkyara-Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi has been received. Rescue operation is being conducted by the teams of SDRF, NDRF and local police administration to evacuate all the workers safely. After talking to the District Magistrate in this matter, instructions have been given to speed up the rescue mission. I am also monitoring the rescue operation. I pray to God for the safe exit of all the employees trapped in the tunnel: CM Dhami posted on X earlier

Over 40 construction workers found themselves trapped on Sunday when the road tunnel they were building in northern India collapsed. The incident unfolded in Uttarakhand early in the morning as one group of workers was leaving, and another was entering the Himalayan state. Rescue efforts are underway amidst the debris.

“Rescue operations are underway after an under-construction tunnel collapsed in Uttarkashi. There are 36-40 labourers in the tunnel. Arrangments are being made for all the necessary technical requirements on the site,” official involved in rescue operations told PTI.

At least 36 workers were reportedly trapped after a portion of a tunnel under construction between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway in Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand collapsed in the early hours of Sunday. Read More

Until now no casualties have been reported in tunnel collapse incident in Uttarkashi. Meanwhile, operations to rescue individuals trapped in vicinity of the mishap are in progress.

Speaking about the under-construction tunnel collapse incident in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said, "I have been in contact with the officials from the time I got to know about the incident...NDRF and SDRF are at the spot. We pray to god for the safe return of everybody."

"In Silkyara Tunnel, a part of the tunnel has broken about 200 meters ahead of the starting point. According to the officials of HIDCL, which is looking after the construction work of the tunnel, about 36 people are trapped in the tunnel and efforts are being made to rescue them safely. Police force, NDRF and SDRF team are present at the spot. Till now no casualty has been reported. We will soon rescue all the people safely:" Uttarkashi SP Arpan Yaduvanshi said speaking to ANI.

In the early hours of Sunday, a section of the under-construction tunnel on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway, between Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi district, collapsed, trapping approximately 36 workers inside.