New Delhi: Rescue workers at the tunnel collapse site in Uttarkashi began the process of inserting mild steel pipes through the rubble using an auger machine to bring out the 40 labourers trapped inside for over 60 hours, PTI reported citing the officials.


However, a fresh landslide on Tuesday hampered efforts to insert steel pipes through the rubble of the collapsed tunnel.


Two rescue workers were injured because of the falling debris and were sent to the makeshift hospital established on the site.


Meanwhile, the son of Gabbar Singh Negi, one of the trapped labourers, was allowed to speak to his father for a few seconds on Tuesday. "He said they were safe. He asked us not to worry as the company is with them," Akash Singh Negi told PTI.


On Sunday morning, a part of an under-construction tunnel on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway caved in following a landslide, leaving 40 workers trapped inside.


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  • The plan was to push through 900-mm diameter sections of mild steel pipes, one after the other, into the rubble using drilling equipment and create an escape passage for the workers, who officials say are safe and being provided with oxygen, water, food packets, and medicines through tubes.


  • The Uttarakhand government has constituted a six-member expert committee to investigate the accident.


  • Uttarkashi DM Abhishek Rohilla said, "The rescue operation is ongoing. Efforts are being made to make a safety passage or a small tunnel with the help of a pipe. Material has been made available at the site. Platform is also being made for them. After that, the construction of escape tunnel will also be started. Everyone is said to be safe. Food and water have been arranged for them. NHIDCL officials say that they have been able to establish continuous communication with them."







  • CDO Gaurav Kumar said, "I went inside the tunnel just now. Continuous communication is being done with our workers. Communication with them was established at 10 am today. All of them are safe and sound. Edible items and drinking water are being arranged, CMO has also arranged some medicines. It is being sent to them. As far as rescue is concerned, pipe pushing is about to start. The platform is ready for that. We are making progress as per our schedule. Hopefully, the process will begin soon..."


  • Disaster Management Secretary Ranjit Kumar Sinha said the authorities have set a target of rescuing the trapped workers by Tuesday night or Wednesday.


  • A team of 160 rescuers from the NDRF, SDRF, ITBP, BRO, RAF, and the health department have been on the spot since Sunday, working relentlessly to reach the trapped workers.


  • According to a list of the trapped workers issued by the District Emergency Operation Centre, 15 are from Jharkhand, eight from Uttar Pradesh, five from Orissa, four from Bihar, three from West Bengal, two each from Uttarakhand and Assam, and one from Himachal Pradesh.