Silkyara tunnel tragedy: massive effort to free 40 workers underway

A critical situation unfolded in Uttarkashi as a section of the Silkyara Tunnel on the Uttarkashi-Yamnotri road collapsed on Sunday morning, trapping approximately 40 laborers inside. In response, intensive rescue and relief operations have been initiated to extricate the workers from the debris. Ranveer Singh Chauhan from the Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD) reported successful communication with the trapped workers, providing a glimmer of hope amid the ongoing efforts.

The collapse occurred between 6 and 7 am, affecting an under-construction tunnel segment connecting Silkyara to Dandalgaon, about 200 meters from the starting point on the Silkyara side of Brahmakhal-Polgaon.Mritunjay Kumar, a loader operator involved in the rescue efforts, stated that heavy machinery, including excavators, is being employed to remove debris and access the trapped workers. The collapsed section spans approximately 30-35 meters, and the incident prompted the activation of rescue teams, including the State Disaster Response Team (SDRF), Border Roads Organisation, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi confirmed the provision of oxygen to the affected tunnel section through a water pipe to ensure the trapped laborers have an adequate air supply. The list of 40 trapped laborers includes individuals from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh, highlighting the diverse geographic origin of the workers involved in the incident.