Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: Oxygen being supplied, rescue on as 40 still trapped

Rescue efforts to reach nearly 40 workers who are still feared trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district continued on Monday.

Officials said the trapped workers are safe, communication has been established with them, and oxygen is being supplied through a pipeline laid for water supply in the tunnel. Through the same pipe, food items were supplied to the trapped workers by creating pressure through a compressor at night.

Meanwhile, heavy excavator machines have been deployed for the removal of debris.

UTTARKASHI TUNNEL COLLAPSE

At least 40 workers were trapped after a portion of an under construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed on Sunday morning.

Police, National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel launched a search and rescue operation on the spot immediately after being informed of the incident, Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police (SP) Arpan Yaduvanshi said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to Uttarkashi DM Ruhela to get an update on the situation and asked him to speed up the rescue operation.

“I am in touch with the officials on the spot and constantly monitoring the situation. I have asked them to expedite the rescue efforts. I pray everyone is rescued safely,” Dhami said in a post on Facebook.