Emergency operation underway to rescue 40 workers in Uttarakhand
The critical situation unfolded on Sunday morning when a section of the tunnel collapsed, ensnaring approximately 40 labourers inside.
A collaborative effort involving multiple agencies is in progress to rescue 40 workers who have been trapped inside a tunnel in Uttarakhand.
In a race against time, urgent rescue and relief operations have been launched at full throttle in the Silkyara Tunnel, situated along the Uttarkashi-Yamnotri road in Uttarakhand. The critical situation unfolded on Sunday morning when a section of the tunnel collapsed, ensnaring approximately 40 labourers inside.
NDRF teams are working tirelessly to ensure the safety of trapped workers and save their lives by rescuing them without further delay. There are some challenges they rescue efforts have come across but a coordinated effort involving various agencies is currently in progress to extricate the workers trapped within the tunnel in Uttarakhand. The incident occurred during the early hours of yesterday when a tunnel under construction on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi district suffered a partial collapse. This led to the entrapment of the 40 workers who were present at the site.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF), and local police are actively engaged in executing the ongoing rescue operations. Preliminary reports provide relief, confirming the safety of all 40 workers who are being supplied with a continuous stream of oxygen through a specialized pipeline. The workers affected hail from diverse regions, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
Efforts to ensure the well-being of the trapped workers extend beyond oxygen supply. Effective communication channels have been established, enabling the delivery of essential supplies such as water and food items to the stranded individuals. The rescue team has made significant progress, successfully removing 20 meters of debris to create an opening in the tunnel. However, an additional 35 meters of debris still requires clearance, prompting the use of heavy machinery, including excavators, to expedite the process.
Visual evidence, in the form of photographs and videos, vividly portrays the challenging conditions within the tunnel. Substantial piles of concrete obstruct the passage, with twisted metal bars protruding from the damaged roof. The Silkyara Tunnel, a pivotal component of the Char Dham Road Project connecting Silkyara to Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi, holds significance for reducing the travel distance from Uttarkashi to Yamunotri Dham by 26 kilometers.
As rescue efforts intensify, the situation remains tense, underscoring the paramount importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of the trapped workers. The collaborative response from multiple agencies reflects a collective commitment to resolving this critical situation and minimizing potential risks to human life.
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