Trapped Workers Rescue Operation: Coordinated Efforts Underway for Swift Evacuation.

As part of Chardham Mahamarg Pariyojana, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has taken up construction of 4.531 km long two lane bi-directional tunnel at Silkyara to join Gangotri and Yamunotri axis under the Radi pass in Uttarakhand and sanctioned for TPC of ₹.1383 Crore on 9^th March 2018 for implementation by its company M/s National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). The construction of this tunnel will immensely benefit the pilgrims as it will provide an all-weather connectivity and reduce 25.6 km snow affected length of NH-134 (Dharasu-Barkot -Yamunotri road) to 4.531 km resulting in reduction of travel time to 5 min i.e. one tenth of 50 min being taken at present.

M/s NHIIDCL signed a contract with M/s Navyuga Engineering Company Limited on 14th June 2018 for ₹. 853.79 Crore. The work started on 9th July 2018 and is currently at 56 percent completion. The expected completion date is 14th May 2024. The heading is done up to 2350m from Silkyara side and 1710m from Barkot side Excavation work is ongoing.

On 12^th November 2023 at 0530 hrs, around 40 workers were inside the tunnel working on reprofiling. A collapse occurred, trapping all 40 workers inside the tunnel between 205m to 260m from the Silkyara portal.

Incident was immediately reported to all concerned agencies of state/central government and rescue work started with supply fresh air/oxygen/water/electricity/small packed food through available pipes to the trapped portion with coordinated efforts by state administration, SDRF/NDRF, MoRTH/NHIDCL/NHAI/BRO and other state departments. Communication with trapped workers has also been established through walkie talkies. Following further measures are taken early evacuation/rescue of trapped workers:

Excavation with shotcreting for 40 meter of collapse tunnel started Additional shotcrete machine shifted from RVNL to work site Geotechnical Expert from project Authority Engineer, project contractor M/s Navyuga, Geological Expert from RVNL, Director (A&F)/Director(T)/Executive Director(P) of NHIDCL, CGM NHAI, District Collector and SP SDRF reached and inspected the incident location and monitoring the rescue closely.

After discussion among experts and inspection of behaviour of fallen muck site over the night following two actions are being taken: Removal of loose muck continued along with shotcreting-21 meter of loose debris removed.

However, minor fall of debris reduce the excavation to the tune of 14 meters.We’ve got everything lined up to push the steel pipe and evacuate the trapped workers. Manpower, materials, and machinery are identified and will be mobilized with the help of irrigation department experts by this evening. All coordinated efforts being made to evacuate the stranded workforce at the earliest.