Rescue workers in northern India successfully reached and made contact with 40 workers who had been trapped for over 24 hours after a road tunnel they were building collapsed in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.
Karamveer Singh Bhandari, a senior commander in the National Disaster Response Force, confirmed the workers’ safety, stating, “All the 40 workers trapped inside the tunnel are safe.” He added that the rescue team had sent water and food to sustain the trapped individuals during the rescue operation.
The collapse occurred early on Sunday morning, prompting urgent efforts by rescue teams to clear heavy debris using excavators. The rescue teams faced challenges as they worked to clear approximately 20 meters of debris, with the trapped workers located an additional 40 meters beyond that point.
Oxygen was pumped into the blocked portion of the tunnel, and food was sent through a water pipe to ensure the well-being of the trapped workers. Initial contact was established through a note on a scrap of paper, followed by communication through radio handsets.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who personally visited the site, reassured the public via social media, stating that continuous efforts were being made to remove tons of concrete debris and bring the workers out safely. He confirmed that contact had been made with the trapped workers through walkie-talkies, and efforts were underway to expedite their safe extraction.
The 4.5-kilometer tunnel, part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Char Dham Road Project, aims to improve connectivity between the holy shrines of Uttarkashi and Yamunotri. Despite the challenges posed by excess debris in the tunnel, the rescue teams remained steadfast in their commitment to ensuring the workers’ safety.
While accidents on large infrastructure construction sites are unfortunately common in India, this successful rescue operation serves as a testament to the dedication and capabilities of the emergency response teams, offering a ray of hope amid challenging circumstances.
