‘Oxygen being supplied’: Rescue ops on after under-construction tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand traps several workers

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with police and local administration personnel, are carrying out the rescue operations. JCB and other machines are being used to remove the debris.

Speaking to The Indian Express, SDRF Inspector Jagdamba Bijalwan, who is heading the operation, said debris could be blocking anywhere between 25 and 50 metres of the tunnel.

He said there was no communication with those trapped inside, but added that the situation did not appear to be life threatening. “Oxygen supply is provided using temporary pipes, We are giving our best and making all possible efforts. As of now, the situation is under control and not life threatening,” he said.

District Disaster Management Officer Devendra Patwal told The Indian Express the trapped workers had space to move around. “The good thing is that the labourers are not crammed in, and have a buffer of around 400 metres to walk and breathe. They have enough oxygen to easily survive for over eight to 10 hours, and that should give us enough time to rescue them,” he said.

The rescue operation involved two JCBs and a Poclain machine being used to remove debris inside the 13-metre-wide tunnel. An escape passage is being created to reach the trapped workers.

A compressor drill machine has been sent from Chinyalisaur, and another mechanical drill machine will reach the spot by Monday morning, officials said.

The Chinyalisaur helipad has also been activated for relief operations. In addition to this, a health team and four ambulances have been deployed.

Satellite phone and lighting systems have also been sent to the spot, and two additional JCB machines have been sent from the PWD, officials said.

As many as 160 officials from different departments have been posted at the site. Leaves of officials have been cancelled and they were asked to report to headquarters.

According to preliminary information, the landslide that led to the collapse occurred at a distance of 200 metres from the entrance of the tunnel. At the time, the workers were 2,500 metres inside the tunnel.

Authorities had initially said 36 workers were trapped, but later revised the figure up to 40.

Only one of the 40 was from Uttarakhand, with all the others having come from Bihar, West Bengal, UP, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, and Himachal Pradesh.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in a post on X that he was monitoring the rescue operation. “After talking to the District Magistrate on this matter, instructions have been given to speed up the rescue mission. I myself am monitoring the rescue operation. I pray to God for the safe exit of all the employees trapped in the tunnel.”

Planned under the all-weather road project, the 4.5-km tunnel is being constructed by Navayuga Engineering Company under the supervision of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited. The tunnel was expected to be completed by next February.