36 workers were trapped when a part of the tunnel under construction on Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway suddenly collapsed on Sunday morning in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. Rescue and relief work is being carried out on a war footing to rescue the trapped workers. Three of the workers trapped in the tunnel are from West Bengal. On the other hand, the agency which is constructing the tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon said that there are indications that the workers trapped inside are safe. Rajesh Panwar, project manager of Navyug Engineering Company Limited, said that the people trapped in the tunnel have poured water out from the pipe, which indicated that they are all safe. He said that the work of removing (muddy debris) is being done at a fast pace. We feel like we are not far away now.
Rescue workers established contact with trapped workers
They kept busy clearing the debris throughout the night and finally succeeded in establishing contact with them. Food and water are now being supplied to these workers trapped in the tunnel under construction on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway. According to the information received from the police control room set up in Silkyara, the people trapped in the tunnel were contacted through walkie-talkie and all the workers are safe. According to the control room, there has been a demand for food by the people trapped inside and food packets are being sent to them through pipes. The workers are currently at a distance of 60 meters.
Messages are being exchanged through pipes at the accident site
Oxygen is being supplied through the pipeline laid for water in the tunnel. Through this pipeline, food packets are being sent to the workers by creating pressure with the help of a compressor. This pipeline is proving to be very helpful in relief and rescue operations. Contact with the workers is being established through this pipeline. To send a message to the workers trapped in the tunnel, a slip written on paper was first sent through the pipeline. Now messages are being exchanged through pipes at the accident site.
Tibetan Border Police personnel are busy in removing debris and opening the tunnel.
Uttarkashi District Emergency Operation Center said that the work of removing water-laden debris with the help of big digging machines is going on continuously to rescue the workers trapped in the under-construction tunnel. Police, National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, fire brigade, emergency 108 and employees of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the organization constructing the tunnel, Border Roads Organization and Indo-Tibetan Border Police were involved in removing the debris and opening the tunnel. Are engaged in work.
Relief and rescue operations continue
Relief and rescue operations are being carried out continuously 24 hours a day. Executive Engineer in-charge of Jal Sansthan, Diwakar Dangwal, who was monitoring the work in Sunday night shift, said on coming out of the tunnel in the early hours that the debris is being removed rapidly. He said that efforts to establish contact with the stranded laborers and supply food and oxygen to them were carried out several times during the night. A part of the tunnel under construction on Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi district suddenly collapsed on Sunday morning, trapping 40 workers.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also reached the spot
All 40 workers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel collapsed due to the collapse of a part of it on Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, are safe and success has been established in establishing contact with them. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also reached the spot and inspected the rescue and relief operations.