Not Involved In Construction Of Uttarakhand's Silkyara Tunnel: Adani Group

In a statement, an Adani Group spokesperson said the conglomerate does not own or hold any share in the company involved in the construction of the tunnel

Gautam Adani-led Adani Group on Monday said it has no direct or indirect involvement in the construction of Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel, where 41 construction workers are trapped since it collapsed more than two weeks ago. In a statement, an Adani Group spokesperson said the conglomerate does not own or hold any share in the company involved in the construction of the tunnel.

"We clarify with utmost emphasis that the Adani group or any of its subsidiaries has no direct or indirect involvement of any kind in the tunnel's construction," it said. "We also clarify that we do not own or hold any shares in the company involved in the tunnel's construction.

The construction workers have been trapped 260 meters inside the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel since November 12 when a part of the under-construction tunnel collapsed following a landslide. The Silkyara tunnel, which is part of the Char Dham all-weather accessibility project, is being built by Hyderabad-based Navayuga Engineering Company Limited.

Strongly condemning any "nefarious attempts" to link its name to the collapse, Adani Group said, "At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with the trapped workers and their families". 

The rescue operation is underway at the Silkyara tunnel site. In the lpast 15 days, experts drilled through the rubble of the tunnel to reach the workers after encountering several pauses in between. So far, 30 metres of drilling through the vertical method has ben done. The rescue operation started soon after the collapse on November 12 but has faced several obstacles in drilling. Doctors and psychiatrists counsel the trapped workers twice a day, with additional standby doctors in Uttarkashi.