Himalayan Tunnel Collapse: Rescuers Rush To Save Dozens of Trapped Workers

A dramatic rescue operation is underway in northern India, where a tunnel collapse has trapped dozens of workers in Uttarkashi, a town in the Himalayan region.

The incident occurred early Sunday during a shift change, with as many as 40 workers caught in the rubble following the collapse of a tunnel-constructed section as part of an extensive Himalayan highway project, as per CNN.

Uttarkashi Crisis Urgent Rescue for Workers in Collapsed Tunnel

(Photo : AFP via Getty Images)
Rescue workers gather at the site after a tunnel collapsed in the Uttarkashi district of India's Uttarakhand state on November 13, 2023. Rescue workers in northern India said on November 13 they had made contact with 40 workers trapped for over 24 hours after the road tunnel they were building collapsed.

The Uttarkashi superintendent of police, Arpan Yaduvanshi, told CNN that communication with the trapped workers has been established, and they are currently alright. Rescuers supply oxygen and water to the men through the debris, with emergency personnel working tirelessly to free them.

Photos and videos from the site show rescue teams and a large excavation machine working at the dark tunnel entrance. Both state and national disaster officials have joined local police in the rescue effort.

Uttarkashi Circle Officer Anuj Kumar reported that about 20 meters (65 feet) of debris has been cleared, but another 40 meters (130 feet) remains. The 4.5km (2.7 mile) tunnel, part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Char Dham Road Project, aims to connect the holy Hindu shrines of Uttarkashi and Yamunotri.

Durgesh Rathodi, a state disaster response official, told AFP that approximately 200 meters (218 yards) of the tunnel had collapsed, with oxygen being supplied to the trapped workers through tubes. However, the rescue operation is challenged by additional rubble falling as rescuers work to remove the blockage.

Photographs from the government rescue teams reveal massive piles of concrete obstructing the tunnel, with twisted metal bars from the broken roof, adding to the situation's complexity. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has called for prayers for the safe rescue of the workers, according to South China Morning Post.

Ongoing Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue with No Worker Response

Rathodi also mentioned that a message was sent to the workers through the oxygen-supplying tube, assuring them that all efforts were being made for their safety. However, no response has yet been received from inside the tunnel. The precarious nature of the situation is highlighted by the fact that more rubble is falling as the debris is being cleared.

A local police officer expressed optimism about rescuing the trapped men but acknowledged the difficulty in estimating the time it would take. The Char Dham Road Project, which includes the tunnel, aims to improve connectivity to famous Hindu shrines and areas bordering China.

However, accidents on large infrastructure construction sites are common in India, with a similar incident in January 2021 in Uttarakhand resulting in the deaths of at least 200 people, mostly construction workers, due to flash floods triggered by a glacier burst.

The current rescue effort in Uttarkashi is a race against time to save the trapped workers, reflecting the risks associated with significant construction projects in ecologically sensitive areas.

The incident underscores the need for stringent safety measures and effective emergency response strategies in large infrastructure projects, particularly in regions prone to natural disasters. As the rescue operation continues, the focus remains on the safety and well-being of the trapped workers and the hope for their swift and safe recovery, Aljazeera reported.