As relief and rescue operations in the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse incident are underway, Union Minister and former Army chief General VK Singh took stock of the operation on Thursday and said that "we are trying our best."
Meanwhile, protests broke on Wednesday outside the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi as workers protested over the delay in rescuing 40 labourers who have been trapped inside after a portion of the under-construction tunnel collapsed on Sunday.
A portion of an under-construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed in the early hours of November 12, entrapping 40 labourers.
Relief and rescue operation is underway on a war footing at Silkyara Tunnel here, where 40 labourers are trapped following the collapse of the under-construction tunnel, an official said on Tuesday.
The experts included in the committee constituted by the government under the chairmanship of the Director, Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Center to study and investigate the causes of collapse in Silkyara Tunnel have inspected the site and started the investigation.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday reviewed the status of relief and rescue operations with senior officials at his residence to save 40 people trapped in Silkyara tunnel located on Uttarkashi-Yamnotri road.
According to authorities, a platform is being prepared for an auger machine to drill horizontally and insert large diameter MS pipes in between the debris so that the trapped workers can be taken out throught the metal pipes.
After an underground tunnel collapsed in Uttarkashi in which 40 people are feared being trapped, the report said that on November 10, re-profiling and primary lining works in the tunnel were safely completed.
After inspecting the tunnel Yamunotri National Highway site where a section of the under-construction tunnel near Silkyara collapsed, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the experts are working on multiple plans to evacuate people.
After taking stock of the situation of the under-construction tunnel accident in Uttarkashi, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that PM Modi has taken information about the entire incident yesterday and has assured of all possible assistance.