Uttarakhand CM Dhami Inspects Tunnel Collapse Site As Workers Still Trapped, Says PM Modi Assured All Help

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the tunnel collapse site where he said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured all possible help.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured all possible help in the rescue of 40 labourers that were trapped after a part of an under-construction tunnel collapsed in Uttarakhand. CM Dhami visited the site on Monday and inspected the tunnel site. 

"The PM has assured of all possible help. NDRF, SDRF, other agencies and experts are working to rescue the 40 stranded persons," CM Dhami told reporters at the site. "We want to assure the families of those stranded that the state govt and administration are making every effort to rescue them," he added. 

Relief and rescue operations are underway at Silkyara Tunnel on Uttarkashi-Yamunotri road where a part of an under-construction tunnel collapsed in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi after which a rescue operation was launched assisted by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police. 

The rescue operation has been going on for more than 12 hours but without any breakthrough so far, although the trapped workers have sent out signals that indicate they are safe, an official at the site said, as per a PTI report. 

At least 160 workers are engaged in relief and rescue operations who are trying to reach the trapped labourers with the help of drilling equipment and excavators, the District Emergency Operation Centre said.

"40 people are trapped inside the tunnel. All are safe, we have provided oxygen and water to them," Prashant Kumar, Circle Officer of Uttarkashi told news agency ANI on Monday.

"The present situation is that yesterday we established communication with the people trapped inside the tunnel. We have moved around 15 metres inside the tunnel, and around 35 metres are still to be covered," he said. 

"Everyone is safe, we have provided oxygen and water to them. We are making our way sideways to go inside the tunnel. After establishing communication, around 40 people are trapped inside," Kumar added.