Several workers are believed to be trapped inside a tunnel in Uttarakhand after a section of the under-construction structure collapsed today. Rescue operations are currently underway to free the trapped workers.
The tunnel is being built to connect Silkyara to Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi as part of the Char Dham Road Project. The aim of this project is to reduce the journey from Uttarkashi to Yamunotri Dham by 26 kilometers.
The incident occurred at around 4 am when a 150-meter-long portion of the four-and-a-half-kilometer-long tunnel collapsed. Upon receiving information about the incident, the district administration issued an alert and Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi arrived at the scene.
The State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) and the police are conducting the rescue operations. It is estimated that around 40 workers are trapped inside. Authorities have stated that approximately 200 meters of the slab need to be cleared in order to open the tunnel. In the meantime, a small opening has been created to insert an oxygen pipe to assist the trapped laborers.
Fortunately, no casualties have been reported at this time.
