Uttarkashi : Approximately 35-40 workers find themselves trapped within a tunnel under construction on Yamunotri-Uttarkashi national highway 94, which collapsed due to a landslide early Sunday morning. Authorities have established contact with the stranded workers, delivering food packets as the rescue operation continues beyond 24 hours.
According to information from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and Uttarkashi police, the incident occurred between 5 and 6 am on Sunday, just as the workers had begun their new shift. The under-construction Brahmkhal-Polgaon tunnel, located around 270 meters inside from one end in the village of Silkyara, experienced a landslide, resulting in the collapse of the tunnel and trapping workers beneath the debris. The other end of the tunnel lies 4.5 kilometers away in Polgaon village on Highway number 94.
SDRF officials report that nearly 60 meters of the tunnel is broken due to the landslide, making the task of opening the blocked portion with massive debris challenging. Uttarkashi police have assured that all workers are safe, with oxygen supply channeled to them through the water pipeline laid in the tunnel, and food packets sent during the night.
Rescue teams have established a communication channel through the pipeline, acting as a lifeline for the workers. Messages were sent to the workers on a piece of paper, creating additional pressure through a compressor in the pipeline line. Workers reciprocated, leading to more exchanges of messages.
The district administration has deployed a team of officials for round-the-clock coordination in the relief and rescue operations, with debris removal work progressing rapidly.
Diwakar Dangwal, Executive Engineer of Jal Sansthan, who oversaw coordination work, stated, “Hectic efforts were made several times in the night to communicate with the stranded workers and supply food to them. Oxygen supply was already being done. All efforts are being made to bring out the workers unharmed as early as possible.”
Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi confirmed the ongoing efforts, stating that rescue teams, the fire brigade, and Uttarkashi police are making all-out efforts to save lives. Machines and equipment have been put in place for the rescue operation.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the tunnel accident site on Monday morning, taking stock of the situation and instructing the district administration and rescue teams to ensure the safe extraction of all workers.
The trapped workers belong to Navyug Engineering Company Limited, subcontracted for the tunnel construction work by the nodal agency and central government PSU NHIDCL in 2019.
