"Rescue operation underway on war footing," says Uttarkashi DM on tunnel collapse in India

Uttarkashi: Relief and rescue operation is underway on a war footing at Silkyara Tunnel here, where 40 labourers are trapped following the collapse of the under-construction tunnel, an official said on Tuesday.

Uttarkashi District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela, State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) Commandant Manikant Mishra, Superintendent of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi, Chief Development Officer Gaurav Kumar, and many other officers are present at the spot and are playing their role in the rescue operation.

DM Ruhela said that a team of technical experts and engineers is here to start the process of pipe pushing, the process to form a passage by installing a 900 mm pipe inside the tunnel to help the trapped workers come out, who officials say are safe and being provided with oxygen, water, food packets and medicines through tubes.

"Deepak Malik, GM of Uttarakhand Drinking Water Corporation and an expert in drilling and boring is leading the technical aspect and drilling process of this campaign," he said, adding that the process will start soon.

A portion of an under-construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed in the early hours of November 12, entrapping 40 labourers.

Meanwhile, District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela along with the senior doctor of the District Hospital, Dr Prem Pokhriyal, went inside the tunnel and talked to the workers through the pipe and encouraged them. Dr Pokhriyal also took information from the workers about their health and gave some health-related instructions.

The administration and police officials consoled many of the family members who reached the spot to inquire about the well-being of the labourers trapped in the tunnel and assured them that all the people would be evacuated safely.