Tragic: 40 labourers feared trapped after portion of under-construction tunnel collapses in Uttarakhand

Dehradun, Nov 12 : At least 40 labourers are feared trapped after a portion of under-construction 4.5-km-long tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district collapsed on Sunday.

Officials said efforts are being made to rescue them safely.

An oxygen pipe had been sent through water pipelines laid inside the tunnel so that those trapped would not have difficulty in breathing.

Uttarkashi District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela said this evening that relief and rescue operations are in full swing to rescue the labourers trapped inside the tunnel at Silkiyara.

The work of removing debris and to evacuate the trapped labourers is also going on a war-footing.

He said that the first priority of the administration is to evacuate the labourers trapped inside the tunnel.

Ruhela said that rescue operations are being carried out by the administration in collaboration with various relief and rescue agencies and technical organizations and NHIDCL.

Various officials are also present along with Ruhela.

The work of removing debris with state-of-the-art machines is going on.

The administration has also released the list of names and addresses of all the 40 labourers who are from different states.

Meanwhile, the District Magistrate has cancelled the leaves of all the officers of the district and directed them to report to their respective workplaces immediately and be ready round-the-clock for relief and rescue operations.