The ongoing rescue mission to evacuate 40 labourers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi entered its third day on Tuesday. The state government has established a six-member expert committee to investigate the incident, while various agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), are actively engaged in the operation.
To rescue the trapped workers, officials are gearing up for horizontal drilling. Using specialized equipment, pipes will be horizontally drilled into the tunnel to create a pathway for the trapped individuals. Disaster Management Secretary Ranjit Kumar Sinha set a target to complete the rescue operation by Tuesday night or Wednesday.
Amidst the efforts, Public Relations Officer GL Nath appealed to local leaders and others to refrain from visiting the site, as it hampers the ongoing rescue operation. He expressed hope for a swift resolution to the situation.
The under-construction tunnel, which collapsed on Sunday, was located between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway. Communication with the trapped workers was established on Monday, with signals indicating their safety.
Anshu Manish Khalko, Director of the NHIDCL (National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited), stated that the situation had improved, assuring that the workers were safe and receiving provisions. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the site to assess the situation, urging officials and involved agencies to coordinate their efforts and promptly communicate their resource needs to the administration, as per a report in News18.
Multiple strategies, including the transport of large-diameter hume pipes from Haridwar and Dehradun, are being explored for the safe rescue of the trapped workers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a detailed account of the rescue efforts and pledged comprehensive support.
A list from the District Emergency Operation Centre revealed the diverse origin of the trapped workers, with 15 from Jharkhand, eight from Uttar Pradesh, five from Orissa, four from Bihar, three from West Bengal, two each from Uttarakhand and Assam, and one from Himachal Pradesh.
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