Uttarkhand: Landslide in the tunnel under construction on Yamunotri NH, more than 36 workers trapped, Dhami taking updates every moment.
A major accident has occurred in Uttarkashi on the day of Diwali. A part of the tunnel under construction from Silkyara to Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi has collapsed. It is being told that about 40 laborers are trapped in this accident. DM and SP of Uttarkashi district are present on the spot. SDRF and police revenue teams are also present at the spot for relief work. Rescue work is going on. Former manager of NHDCL told that due to the debris falling in the 30 meter area near the 270 meter part of the tunnel from the Silkyar side of the Brahmakhal-Polgaon under-construction road tunnel which has been constructed about 2340 meters from Silkyar, about 35 meters inside the tunnel. -40 laborers are trapped.
On receiving information about the accident, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said that he is in constant touch with the officials since the incident. There is complete information about the accident. SDRF and NDRF are present on the spot. Praying for everyone’s safe return.
Accident happened during shift changing
The night shift workers were coming out of the tunnel, the next shift workers were going inside. The tunnel was closed due to debris coming from the upper part, about 300 meters from the main entrance of the tunnel. 40 to 50 laborers were working within about 2700 meters from here. The line laid to supply oxygen to the workplace was also destroyed by the debris. However, project officials are claiming that adequate amount of water and oxygen is available inside.
The only option to rescue the trapped workers is to remove debris from the tunnel. It is being told that more debris is coming from the upper side of the tunnel than is being removed. There is no hard rock at the place where debris is coming from the upper side of the tunnel.
This tunnel is being constructed under the Allweather Road Project
This is the longest (four and a half kilometres) double lane road tunnel of this project. About four kilometers of it has been constructed. Workers remain busy day and night in the construction of the tunnel. The target is to complete its excavation by February 2024.
The construction of this 4.5 km long state-of-the-art tunnel between Silkyara and Jangal Chatti on Yamunotri National Highway will reduce the distance between Gangotri and Yamunotri by 26 km.
This tunnel is being built at a cost of about Rs 853 crore. Under the supervision of Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the double lane tunnel is the country’s first state-of-the-art tunnel being built using New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM). Navayug Engineering Company started its construction in January, 2019.
