Due to the collapse of the Silkyara-Dandalgaon tunnel on the Yamunotri National Highway, 40 laborers are trapped inside for the last two days. A second steel tunnel is being built to take out these workers. On Tuesday, trouble again arose while building the second tunnel. Here the workers were trying to put mild steel pipes in the debris, when a landslide occurred. Because of this the process of constructing the second tunnel was disrupted. During this period two laborers were also injured. The injured have been admitted to the same hospital.
According to technical experts, if everything goes well, all the 40 laborers trapped inside will come out safely today. District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela, who is supervising the rescue work, said that the soil digging auger machine and 900 mm diameter pipes were delivered on Tuesday morning itself. After this the process of drilling the tunnel was started.
How will the workers come out of the tunnel?
Officials said that it took the entire day of Tuesday to build the platform for the machine. After installing the machine, the process of laying the pipe that will reach the workers has to be started by digging out the debris. Officials informed that the pipe will be laid through excavation and an escape tunnel will be made to take out the workers. The entire work is being done under the supervision of technical experts and engineers.
Food and oxygen reached the tunnel
Officials said that all the workers trapped in the tunnel are safe. Water and food are being supplied to them from time to time. Oxygen arrangements have also been made for them. Dry fruits, water, electricity and medicines have also been provided to them. In fact, some workers had complained of vomiting, for which medicines have been supplied to them. A local priest also performed puja on the spot for the safety of the stranded labourers.
What did the workers trapped inside say?
Gabbar Singh Negi, one of the workers trapped inside, told his son that all the workers inside were safe. He said that there is no need to worry, the company is with him. After getting information about the collapse of a part of the tunnel, Akash reached the spot to know about the condition of his father. Akash’s father Gabbar Singh Negi is among the laborers trapped inside.
160 soldiers engaged in rescue work
160 personnel of National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and Border Roads Organization are engaged in rescuing 40 laborers trapped inside. Common people have been advised not to go near the tunnel. Officials of Navayuga Engineering Company, which built the tunnel, said that only those people whose services or help are required for rescue operations should enter the tunnel. Local political leaders are troubling us by coming into the tunnel again and again. I appeal to them not to do this. Our priority is to get the trapped laborers out safely soon.
Officials said that the morale of the workers trapped inside is high. Here, a temporary medical room with 6 beds has been prepared outside the tunnel. 10 ambulances are also present at the spot. A committee has been formed to investigate why the landslide occurred. An expert committee of 6 people has also surveyed the tunnel and the hill above it.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached the tunnel twice and took information about the trapped workers. Besides, they are continuously taking information from the authorities about the action being taken to evict them.
