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NATION NOVEMBER 24, 2023 | The Indian Eye 8

Fear and patience as efforts

continue to save 40 workers stuck

inside a mountain tunnel

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the construction wing of the Indian Army have

also been assisting in the rescue operation

OUR BUREAU ment is ready to provide all the help
required to the agencies involved in
Dehradun (UK)
the rescue operation.
s rescue operations contin- The under-construction tunnel
ue for eight days to save the between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on
A40 trapped workers at Silk- the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national
yara tunnel in Uttarkashi, Secretary, highway collapsed in the early hours
Ministry of Road, Transport and of November 12.
Highways Anurag Jain announced Meanwhile, Union minister Ni-
on Sunday the decision to take up a tin Gadkari, who visited the Uttar-
five-option action plan. kashi tunnel collapse site on Sunday
The government has taken a de- morning, said he expects the rescuers
cision to work on all fronts to save the will be able to reach the victims who
precious lives of the labourers trapped are trapped inside it in another two
in the tunnel at Silkyara, said Jain. to two-and-a-half days.
“The government has taken a “If the auger machine works prop-
decision to work on all fronts to save A rescue operation is underway after a part of the Silkyara tunnel collapsed on Nov. 12 (ANI) erly, we will be able to reach them
the precious lives of the labourers (victims) in the next 2 to 2.5 days,”
trapped in the tunnel at Silkyara. In a tion plan. We are working on the de- lief operation. Gadkari told the reporters from the
high-level meeting today, various op- clared unsafe areas where we were They were accompanied by Ut- tunnel site. Uttarakhand Chief Min-
tions were examined based on tech- working and stopped later due to tarakhand Chief Secretary SS Sand- ister Pushkar Singh Dhami also ac-
nical advice and 5 options are to be movement on earth. We will make a hu at Silkyara. companied the Union minister.
pursued,” he added. canopy and restart the work with all Speaking to ANI about the ongo- Minister Gadkari apprised that
“In addition to these 5 options, a those private tunnel experts working
couple of additional pipes for redun- the security measures.” ing relief and rescue operations, CM for various organisations in the re-
Meanwhile, Union Minister Ni-
dancy of food support would also be tin Gadkari and Chief Minister Push- Dhami said, “We are working on all gion have also been roped in for the
the possibilities available. All types of
put up,” he added. kar Singh Dhami reached the scene expert teams are working here.” CM rescue efforts.
According to Anurag Jain, Na- Food, medicine, and oxygen
tional Highways and Infrastructure to review the ongoing rescue and re- Dhami said that the state govern- were being provided to those trapped
Development Corporation Limit- inside through pipes. Work is on for
ed (NHDCL), Oil and Natural Gas another alternate supply line in case
Corporation (ONGC), Satluj Jal of any exigencies that may arise in the
Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), Tehri Hydro first line.
Development Corporation Limited “There is light and ample space
(THDC) and Rail Vikas Nigam Lim- inside the tunnel and the victims are
ited (RVNL) have been assigned one able to move around; the communi-
option each. cation line is on,” Gadkari told re-
The Border Roads Organisation porters, adding their morale was high.
(BRO) and the construction wing Stating that the geology and terrain
of the Indian Army have also been in the Himalayas are very difficult,
assisting in the rescue operation, he the efforts to rescue the workers are
said. Jain further said that the Man- on a war footing. Notably, the rescue
aging Director of NHIDCL has been efforts have now entered eighth day.
made in charge of coordination with Further, the Union Minister
all the Central agencies and has been urged people not to draw any early
stationed in Silkyara. conclusions about the incident. “Ear-
The centre has given clear direc- ly diagnosis of anything is not advis-
tions that whatever is possible must able. We are going into the details
be done for the rescue operation, Nitin Gadkari and Pushkar Singh Dhami conduct an on-site inspection to assess the rescue and investigating it. Please cooperate
Jain added. He further said, “Along operations after a part of the Silkyara tunnel collapsed (ANI) with us to keep the morale of the vic-
with these 5 options, there is an ac- tims high.”

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