Prime Minister Narendra Modi took information about the incident in Uttarkashi from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. He assured Chief Minister Dhami of all possible assistance. Chief Minister Dhami gave this information by sharing a post in the internet media. Chief Minister Dhami wrote, ‘On returning from Lepcha, Himachal Pradesh, respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi today informed about the condition of the workers trapped in the tunnel, relief and rescue operations due to the debris coming during the construction of the tunnel near Silkyara, Uttarkashi, through phone. Took detailed information in this regard. The Prime Minister was given detailed information about the rescue operations conducted to get the workers out safely and informed about the situation. Honorable Prime Minister assured all possible help to deal with this accident. Central agencies have been directed by the Government of India to cooperate in relief and rescue operations.
Contradiction in the number of stranded workers
There is contradiction regarding the number of workers trapped in the tunnel. Police and district administration informed that 36 workers were trapped inside the tunnel. Whereas, Rajesh Panwar, project manager of Navyug Construction Company, says that 40 workers are trapped inside the tunnel.
Details of workers trapped inside the tunnel
Bihar- 4
Uttar Pradesh- 8
Bengal- 3
Jharkhand- 15
Assam- 2
Himachal Pradesh- 1
Uttarakhand- 2
Orissa- 5
ordered horizontal drilling machine
To stop the falling debris, a short cutting machine has reached the spot and a horizontal drilling machine has been ordered from Lakhwad Project. The rescue work to rescue the trapped workers is going on war footing. Among the two stranded workers from Uttarakhand, one is from Kumbh Chaud Kotdwar and the other is from Pithoragarh.
Workers have been trapped in tunnels before
Tunnel construction expert Sharad Rawat says that incidents of cavity opening and debris falling keep happening during the construction of the tunnel. In the year 2005, Joshiada Dharasu tunnel of Hydropower Corporation was closed due to opening of cavity and 20 workers remained trapped inside the tunnel for about 14 hours. A thick iron pipe was inserted amidst the debris of the landslide, through which they were taken out.
