Spirits alive: Rescuers supply food to workers trapped under debris through pipes in Uttarakhand

Uttarkashi:  

Keeping their spirits alive, the officials, engaged in the rescue operation of the 40 workers trapped under the debris after an under-construction tunnel collapsed in Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand, continue to put efforts towards evacuation of the workers.

The under-construction tunnel on the Yamunotri National Highway (NH) had collapsed on Sunday, leaving 40 workers trapped beneath the debris. Rescue operations are being carried out for the third consecutive day on Tuesday. According to the state emergency operation centre, the 30-metre collapsed section is 270 metres from the mouth of the tunnel from the Silkyara side.

Rescue workers on Tuesday began the process of inserting wide steel pipes through the rubble of the collapsed under-construction tunnel. 

The rescue teams have managed to supply dry food to the trapped workers using pipes laid down to supply water for construction. Water, medicine,  and oxygen are also being supplied to them. According to officials, all of them are safe and sound. 

Uttarkashi DM Abhishek Rohilla said, "The rescue operation is ongoing. Efforts are being made to make a safe passage or a small tunnel with the help of a pipe. Material has been made available at the site. A platform is also being made for them. After that, the construction of the escape tunnel will also be started. Everyone is said to be safe. Food and water have been arranged for them. NHIDCL officials say that they have been able to establish continuous communication with them..." 

#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Rescue operations underway in Silkyara Tunnel located on Uttarkashi-Yamnotri road. pic.twitter.com/KNSvGx2cdE

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP)

CDO Gaurav Kumar said that he went inside Silkyara tunnel earlier in the day. Communication with the workers was established at 10 am today. He claimed that all of them were safe and sound.

He said, “I went inside the tunnel just now. Continuous communication is being done with our workers. Communication with them was established at 10 am today. All of them are safe and sound. Edible items and drinking water are being arranged. medicine has also arranged some medicine. It is being sent to them. As far as rescue is concerned, pipe pushing is about to start. The platform is ready for that. We are making progress as per our schedule. Hopefully, the process will begin soon...”

#WATCH | Uttarkashi tunnel accident: Trucks loaded with 900 mm diameter pipes reach Silkyara. A platform is being prepared for the auger machine for horizontal drilling to rescue the trapped labourers by inserting large diameter MS pipes in the part of the Silkyara tunnel blocked… pic.twitter.com/KcGcVB2z55

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP)

To assist the rescue operation, trucks loaded with 900 mm diameter pipes started arriving in Silkyara at midnight and the work to put the pipes inside the tunnel will begin soon. A platform was being prepared for the auger machine for horizontal drilling to rescue the labourers by inserting large diameter MS pipes in the part of the tunnel blocked by subsidence.

Earlier in the day, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami reviewed the status of the ongoing rescue operation and said that he is closely monitoring the situation.CM Pushkar Dhami said, “ I am closely monitoring the situation. I visited the spot, and I also spoke to the family members of the people who're trapped inside...food, water and oxygen being supplied to the people who're trapped inside. PM Modi is also closely monitoring the situation...”

The Uttarakhand govt have also constituted a six-member expert committee to investigate the tunnel collapse incident.