40 Indian workers trapped in tunnel are safe

Rescuers have made contact with 40 trapped workers and determined they are safe, a day after a tunnel collapsed in Uttarakhand state.

"We have sent water and food to them. All 40 workers trapped inside the tunnel are safe," Karamveer Singh Bhandari, a senior commander of India's National Disaster Response Force, said today from the rescue site in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, northern India.

About 200 meters of a road tunnel under construction collapsed early on November 12, while workers were changing shifts, trapping 40 people. Rescuers pumped oxygen into the tunnel and used heavy excavators to clear debris to reach the group of workers.

Initial communication was made by writing on pieces of paper, but rescuers later connected with the workers via handheld radios.

40 Indian workers trapped in tunnel are safe — Rescue workers work at the site of a road tunnel collapse in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand on November 13. Video: *Reuters*

Rescue official Durgesh Rathodi said the excavator had moved about 20 metres of debris from the road, but was still 40 metres away from where the trapped workers were.

"Because there is so much debris in the tunnel, we are facing some difficulties in the rescue operation, but the rescue team will do everything possible," senior commander Bhandari said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the removal of tonnes of collapsed concrete debris was "being done continuously to bring out the workers safely".

Disaster response official Devendra Patwal said that despite being trapped, the workers had space in the tunnel area. "The good thing is that they are not crowded and have a buffer of about 400 metres to move around and breathe."

The 4.5km tunnel is being built between Silkyara and Dandalgaon to connect the two holiest Hindu temples, Uttarkashi and Yamnotri. Images released by rescue teams show huge piles of concrete blocking the tunnel, with metal rods protruding from the front of the debris.

Rescue workers at the site of a collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand state on November 12. Photo: PTI — Rescue workers at the site of a collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand state on November 12. Photo: *PTI*

The tunnel is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Char Dham Road Project, which aims to improve connectivity between some of the country's most famous Hindu shrines, as well as areas bordering China.

Accidents at major infrastructure construction sites are quite common in India.

Huyen Le (According to AFP )

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