Uttarakhand: After 3 days of rescue ops, govt told labourers might be trapped in another tunnel

Garhwal Commissioner Ravinath Raman told The Indian Express, “Earlier, we were told about the probability of about 34 labourers present 180 metres inside the Intake Adit tunnel, and we were digging in that direction. Today, they (NTPC authorities) informed us that the last known worksite of the labourers is a silt filtration tunnel (SFT) 12 metres below the Intake Adit Tunnel and about 72 metres from its opening. With this, the strategy of going up to 180 metres has been changed. Drilling will be done in the SFT and lights with cameras will be lowered into the area.”

The Commissioner said that a buffer area was being developed at a distance of about 72 metres, where drilling has to be done to reach the SFT. The Commissioner also said that it has been decided to send tunnel expert engineers to the site. “The tunnel has become unstable at places due to slush. So we want expert experienced engineers to guide the rescue operation,” Raman said.