L&T workers trapped inside tunnel in Arunachal

Officials said on Monday that hundreds of rescue workers were trying to save the 13 engineers and workers of L&T who have been in the tunnel since 11.30 pm on Sunday.

Thirteen men have been trapped inside a tunnel at a hydroelectric power project site in Arunachal Pradesh which got blocked by heavy mudslides triggered by torrential rains.

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Officials said on Monday that hundreds of rescue workers were trying to save the 13 engineers and workers of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) who have been in the tunnel since 11.30 pm on Sunday.

They are part of a team engaged in construction of a 2,000 MW power project at Dulanmukh in Arunachal Pradesh, about 150 km from Itanagar.

The National Hydroelectric Power Corp (NHPC) is the nodal agency executing the project with experts from L&T, one of India's largest engineering and construction conglomerates, being hired to carry out construction of a power plant.

"We are trying hard to rescue the trapped people from inside the tunnel and we hope to find them safe and sound," DK Singh, an official of the National Hydroelectric Power Corp (NHPC) said over telephone.

Ambulances and medical teams have been kept ready to treat the workers once they are rescued. "All emergency services have been alerted and we are hoping for the best," an L&T official said.