Around 36-40 workers have been trapped inside after a portion of an under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand collapsed in the early hours of Sunday.
The Silkyara Tunnel, a part of the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed around 4 am.
ANI
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Where did the tunnel collapse
According to initial reports, 150-metre-long portion of the four-and-a-half-kilometer-long tunnel collapsed between Silkyara and Dandalgaon trapping the workers inside.
As soon as information about the incident was received, Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi immediately reached the spot and launched a relief and rescue operation, police added.
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How rescue operations are going on
National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, fire brigade and employees of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the organisation that is constructing the tunnel, are at the spot as well, they said.
According to Yaduvanshi efforts are being made to rescue them safely.
“Efforts are on to open the tunnel and the process of removing debris inside the tunnel is in progress,” he said.
A team from the State Disaster Response Team (SDRF) and police revenue have relief and rescue operations. District Magistrate and Superintendents of Police of Uttarkashi district are present on the spot.
ANI
Information about the tunnel collapse was recieved at the District Control Room Uttarkashi with the caller requesting the assistance of an SDRF team at the spot.
Acting on the information, Commander SDRF, Manikant Mishra immediately directed a rescue team under the leadership of Inspector Jagdamba Vijalwan to leave for the spot with the necessary rescue equipment, they said.
ANI
“After reaching the spot, SDRF started a relief and rescue operation on a war footing in coordination with other rescue units,” the official said.
Why all-weather Char Dham Road is important
The tunnel is part of the all-weather Char Dham Road Project, which, once completed will reduce the journey from Uttarkashi to Yamunotri Dham by 26 kilometres.
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