The Press Information Bureau (PIB) today stated that all coordinated efforts are being made to evacuate stranded workforce at the earliest at Silkyara Tunnel collapse site in Uttarakhand.
On November 12, the Silkyara tunnel collapse around 5: 30 am while 40 workers were inside the tunnel conducting reprofiling work from 260m to 265m inside the tunnel from Silkyara portal. The collapse is said to have occurred at 205m to 260 m from Silkyara portal and all 40 workers based on contractor tunnel entry register were trapped inside the tunnel, reported the PIB.
As part of the Chardham Mahamarg Pariyojana, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has taken up construction of 4.531 km long two lane bi-directional tunnel at Silkyara to join Gangotri and Yamunotri axis under the Radi pass in Uttarakhand. The project was sanctioned for TPC of Rs. 1383 Crore on March 9, 2018 for implementation by its company M/s National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL). “The construction of this tunnel will immensely benefit the pilgrims as it will provide an all-weather connectivity and reduce 25.6 km snow affected length of NH-134 (Dharasu-Barkot -Yamunotri road) to 4.531 km resulting in reduction of travel time to 5 min i.e. one tenth of 50 min being taken at present,” mentioned the PIB.
Further, M/s NHIIDCL engaged and signed the contract agreement with M/s Navyuga Engineering Company Limited on EPC mode on June 14, 2018 for Rs. 853.79 Crore. The work commenced on July 9, 2018 with intended completion by July 8, 2022. The work was delayed with the current progress of work at 56 percent and likely to be completed by May 14 2024. “At present heading in about 4060 m i.e. 90 percent length is completed and excavation work for 477 m length is underway along with other activities of benching etc of heading done portion. Heading is done up to 2350 m from Silkyara side and up to 1710 m from Barkot side,” informed the PIB.
According to the PIB, the incident was immediately reported to all concerned agencies of state/central government and rescue work started with supply of fresh air/oxygen/water/electricity/packed food through available pipes to the trapped portion with coordinated efforts by state administration, SDRF/NDRF, MoRTH/NHIDCL/NHAI/BRO and other state departments. Communication with trapped workers has also been established through walkie talkies.
Meanwhile, further measures have been taken for early evacuation/rescue of trapped workers which included excavation with shotcreting for 40 meter of collapse tunnel and shifting of additional shotcrete machine from RVNL to work site.
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The Geotechnical Expert from project Authority Engineer, project contractor M/s Navyuga, Geological Expert from RVNL, Director (A&F)/Director(T)/Executive Director(P) of NHIDCL, CGM NHAI, District Collector and SP SDRF also reached and inspected the incident location monitoring the rescue closely.
After discussion among experts and inspection of behaviour of fallen muck site, the PIB reported, the following two actions have being taken:
Removal of loose muck continued along with shotcreting-21 meter of loose debris removed. However, it has been reported that minor fall of debris reduce the excavation to the tune of 14 meters. The second action being, to push a 900 mm dia MS Steel Pipe with the help of Hydraulic Jack to evacuate the workers trapped inside- where availability of man, material and machinery has been identified and being mobilised along with experts of irrigation department
