MC explains: Uttarakhand tunnel collapse and what is being done to rescue 40 workers

UTTARAKHAND TUNNEL COLLAPSE TT

An under-construction tunnel in northern Uttarakhand collapsed early on November 12 morning, trapping 40 workers. It was a portion of the tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway.

The 4,531 metre-long Silkyara tunnel is part of the Chardham project of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Navayuga Engineering Co is constructing it on behalf of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corp Ltd (NHIDCL) for Rs 853.79 crore.

As of 3 pm November 14, not a single worker has been evacuated.

While initial media reports suggested that a landslide triggered the collapse, NHIDCL officials say that an investigation is on.

NHIDCL officials said that, according to their duty roster, of the 40 workers, 15 are from Jharkhand, eight from Uttar Pradesh, five from Odisha, four from Bihar, three from West Bengal, one from Himachal Pradesh and two each from Uttarakhand and Assam.

The tunnel was being constructed for the benefit of the Char Dham pilgrims as it would save their travelling time by around one hour, avoiding steep, mountainous and narrow roads, prone to accidents and landslides. The existing road, if widened, would have completely destroyed the rich flora and fauna of the Radi top mountains, with a thick cover of the Rhododendron vegetation.

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What rescue operations are being done?

According to the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), rescue teams were immediately rushed to the spot after the incident at 5:30 am on Sunday. They drilled a pipe through the debris, through which they sent a walkie-talkie to the trapped workers.

Superintendent of Police (SP), of Uttarkashi division Arpan Yaduvanshi had, on November 12, said that communication was established with the trapped workers within hours of the incident through the walkie-talkie.

“Initially they panicked, but we managed to pacify them by explaining our rescue operations. They said there is no shortage of oxygen as no one is complaining about breathing issues. We are sending raw food materials, like grams etc,” Yaduvanshi said.

“There are 75 police personnel, 25 fire services personnel, one platoon of PAC (Provincial Armed Constabulary), 25 personnel from the SDRF, 35 from the NDRF and 25 from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. Our teams are running against time in the chilly weather conditions to ensure that every worker trapped inside the tunnel is evacuated safe,” he added.

According to NHIDCL officials, as part of the rescue operations, loose earth is being continuously removed and concrete or mortar are continuously sprayed with either a dry or wet mix process to push through a 900-mm diameter steel pipe to evacuate the workforce.

"An expert team from the irrigation department is reaching the project site for assistance,” an NHIDCL official said.

So far, the rescue teams have made little headway in cutting down the rocks that fell over a 200-metre area, trapping the workers inside the tunnel.

Rescuers are trying to create an escape passage to reach the trapped workers and the distance is about 40 metres. Officials said around 21 metres of slab blocking the tunnel has been removed and a 19-metre passage is yet to be cleared.

Rescue teams are planning to push pipes of 900 mm diameter, wide enough for the trapped men to squeeze through, by boring a hole into the heap of debris.

A platform is being prepared for an auger machine to drill horizontally and push the pipes through the debris and evacuate the workers, officials said.

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How did the tunnel collapse?

The Uttarakhand government has constituted a six-member expert committee to investigate the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse.

While the NHIDCL has not come out with an official reason for the collapse, environmentalists like Ravi Chopra have pointed out that practices, such as using dynamite and large drills, cause landslides and tunnel collapses.

For the development of the Himalayan region, ecological concerns should be addressed first, Chopra said. Sustainable development demands approaches that are both geologically and ecologically sound, he said.

Chopra had resigned last year as chairman of a Supreme Court-appointed high-powered committee on the Char Dham all-weather road, expressing disappointment over an apex court order limiting the panel's jurisdiction to only two 'non- defence' stretches of the project.

Harshapati Uniyal, former advisor to the state planning commission, also said that construction methods for the Char Dham all-weather highway, especially for widening roads, are unacceptable.

"These all-weather roads are a tragedy for Uttarakhand, especially because of the wrong techniques being used for their widening. The river valley alignment cannot be considered safe. If you disturb the slopes, disasters like landslides are inevitable," Uniyal said.

He added that in the underground tunnel of the project passing near the hill town, cracks had appeared in nearby buildings and roads.

Social activist Shivanand Chamoli, who has been vocal on these issues, also said that considering the sensitivity of the Himalayas, development projects should be examined from every aspect before permission is given.

"If development work is carried out in a haphazard manner, disasters will definitely occur," Chamoli said.