Tragedy Strikes in Northern India as 40 Workers Trapped in Tunnel Collapse
Dehradun, India — A road tunnel construction site in northern India witnessed a catastrophic incident on Sunday, leaving at least forty workers trapped in the debris, as reported by rescue officials. Durgesh Rathodi, an emergency services official, disclosed that approximately 200 meters of the tunnel collapsed in Uttarakhand state.
“Oxygen is being supplied through the debris, but more rubble is falling as rescuers attempt to clear the obstruction,” Rathodi stated from the site, underscoring the challenging conditions faced by rescue teams.
The collapse occurred in the early hours of Sunday in the Himalayan region, coinciding with a shift change where one group of workers was exiting, and a replacement crew was arriving.
The 4.5 km long tunnel, a crucial component of the Char Dham Road Project spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is under construction to connect Silkyara and Dandalgaon, linking the important Hindu shrines of Uttarkashi and Yamnotri.
Rescue teams released photos depicting substantial concrete blocks obstructing the tunnel, with twisted metal bars protruding from the rubble.
Expressing concern, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took to social media, writing, “Pray to God that the workers stuck inside the tunnel come out safely.”
Despite the challenges, a local police officer conveyed optimism among rescue workers regarding the outcome. However, he acknowledged the difficulty in estimating the duration of the rescue operation.
This tragic incident once again highlights the risks associated with large-scale infrastructure projects in India, where accidents on construction sites are unfortunately common.
In India’s Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, rescuers are desperately trying to free some 40 construction workers who got trapped when a road tunnel they were building collapsed. https://t.co/kHtm6klm3B
— DW News (@dwnews) November 12, 2023