In a persistent rescue operation spanning three days, over one hundred rescue workers in northern India continue their arduous task of saving trapped laborers after a road tunnel collapsed during construction. The incident occurred in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, where excavators have been tirelessly removing debris since Sunday morning.
The 40 workers, who miraculously remain alive, are stuck underground, prompting an intensive rescue effort. “Our biggest breakthrough is that we have established contact, and there is a supply of oxygen and food,” stated Abhishek Ruhela, the top civil servant of Uttarkashi district, emphasizing that essential measures for the workers’ survival are being implemented.
Oxygen is being actively pumped into the tunnel, and provisions such as dry fruit are being supplied to sustain the trapped workers. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) announced on Tuesday that rescuers have successfully communicated with the workers through radio contact.
Ranjit Kumar Sinha, a senior disaster management official, expressed optimism about freeing the workers by Wednesday, highlighting that there is sufficient oxygen to last “for about five to six days” where they are confined.
The collapse occurred when construction worker Hemant Nayak and others were in the tunnel. Nayak shared his experience, revealing that small amounts of dirt falling had been noticed but weren’t taken seriously. Suddenly, a substantial amount of debris cascaded, sealing the tunnel.
Government rescue teams released photographs depicting the aftermath, showcasing extensive rubble blocking the wide tunnel, with twisted metal bars and slabs of concrete adding to the complexity of the situation.
To facilitate the rescue, teams are utilizing heavy machinery to drive a steel pipe through the rubble, creating a passage wide enough for the trapped workers. The 4.5-kilometer tunnel, part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s infrastructure project, aims to enhance travel conditions between Uttarkashi and Yamunotri, connecting two significant Hindu shrines. Accidents on large infrastructure projects are unfortunately common in India, emphasizing the need for stringent safety measures in such endeavors.
By AFP
