Uttarkashi: An incident occurred where a section of an under-construction tunnel on the Yamunotri National Highway collapsed due to a landslide, trapping about 40 workers. The tunnel forms part of the Char Dham project, aimed at linking Silkyara to Dangalgaon, reducing the distance by 25 km when completed.
State Disaster Management Secretary Ranjit Kumar Sinha visited the site to assess the situation. He assured that the workers are safe and being provided with essentials like food, water, and oxygen through pipelines. Efforts are underway to rescue them, estimating it might take one to two days.
An auger machine has been requested from Dehradun to assist in the rescue. Until its arrival, machinery like JCB is being used to clear debris. The plan involves boring with the auger machine, creating two-and-a-half-foot diameter pipes for the workers’ extraction, which could take one to two days. There’s enough oxygen for five to six days, supplemented by pipeline delivery.
Uttarkashi SP Arpan Yaduvanshi confirmed ongoing rescue operations involving various agencies and technical experts. A significant portion of the debris has been cleared, and contact has been established with the trapped workers’ families.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi contacted Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, expressing concern about the situation. The Chief Minister assured the PM of coordinated relief efforts involving state and Central agencies. He personally inspected the site and continues to oversee operations. Additionally, large diameter pipes are being arranged from Haridwar and Dehradun for rescue purposes.
A committee, headed by the Director of the Uttarakhand Disaster Mitigation and Management Centre, has been formed to investigate the landslide’s cause. It will gather debris samples and examine the mountain’s condition above the landslide zone, submitting a detailed report afterward.