India tunnel collapse: Ambulances on standby as rescue of trapped workers enters final stretch

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The collapse of an under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand, in a region already prone to landslides, has sparked debate among environmentalists about the damaging impact of construction projects in the already fragile Himalayas.

“When you are aligning a tunnel in an area that is very close to the highly fragile Himalayas, the authorities should have conducted some geological investigation,” Navin Juyal, a geologist, was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

“Then the fragility of this place should have been brought to the notice of the authorities.”

Suresh Bhai from Himalaya Bachao Abhigyan, a nonprofit in Uttarkashi, told the Times of India: “Tunnel projects in the Himalayas should be prohibited entirely. They render the mountains more vulnerable. The government must reconsider all ongoing tunnel projects in the Himalayan states.”

A few years ago, an expert panel appointed by the Indian Supreme Court — led by renowned environmentalist Ravi Chopra among other Himalayan scientists and experts — raised alarm about these issues.

The Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi — which is a part of the Narendra Modi administration’s multi-million dollar Char Dham project that aims to link four Hindu holy sites in the state — is being built in an area comprising lime rock, hence making it prone to recurrent collapses, the Times of India reported, quoting geologists.

One expert, S P Sati, said: “There’s a possibility of a blind shear zone that was not previously reported, where multiple dense rock fractures may displace due to a significant fracture like the Srinagar thrust or locally the Badkot thrust passing through the area. Alternatively, the use of explosives for tunnelling might be the cause.

“Although tunnelling is a globally efficient technology with international safety protocols, cost constraints often lead to compromised regulations and the extensive use of explosives, potentially causing such incidents.”

The National Highways Authority of India [NHAI] is going to do a safety audit of 29 tunnels it is currently building, a statement by the government of India said on Wednesday.

“To ensure safety and adherence to the highest quality standards during construction, NHAI will undertake safety audit of all 29 under-construction tunnels across the country,” the statement said.

Besides medicine and hot meals, rescue teams have also provided the trapped tunnel workers with undergarments, towels, toothbrushes and other essentials.

On Tuesday, the first visuals of the 41 trapped workers emerged after an endoscopic camera was sent through a pipe which captured the workers’ first images since 12 November.

An audio communication channel was also successfully established with the workers after sending a microphone and speaker to the other end of a six-inch pipe.

An official told the Indian Express that “on this side, we are using headphones to talk to them”.

“Using this channel, our doctors talked to them and asked about their wellbeing. Some of them complained of constipation and medicines were provided,” Uttarakhand government secretary, Neeraj Khairwal said.

The 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi district have complained of headaches, nausea, anxiety, depression, and constipation among other ailments.

They have been provided with medicines and health officials, including psychiatrists monitoring their mental wellbeing, have advised them to practice yoga and take regular walks inside.

Earlier, Dr Abhishek Sharma, the psychiatrist who is overseeing the mental health of the trapped workers, told the Indian Express: “We’ve kept constant contact, suggesting activities like yoga, walking, and encouraging conversations among them to maintain high morale.

“Among those trapped inside is one Gabbar Singh Negi, who has been in a similar condition before. Being the oldest among them, he is ensuring everyone’s confidence remains high.”

The workers have been stuck inside for more than 11 days. Some days ago, some workers had also complained of battling depression and according to media reports, anti-depressants, along with some dry fruits and multivitamins were sent to the workers.

“Some workers have also complained of constipation and medicines were provided to them,” Uttarakhand government secretary Neeraj Khairwal said. He also said that eyedrops were sent to the workers as a few had complained of eye issues possibly due to the dust.

Once freed, the workers are expected to receive both psychological help as well as physical check-ups, having battled the trauma of being trapped for so many days.

Member of the National Disaster Management Authority, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain told media this afternoon: “We hope to get success in this operation in the next few hours, or by tomorrow.”

Days into the Uttarakhand tunnel rescue operation, Indian authorities sought the help of Thai cave experts who saved the lives of dozens of children after rescuing them from a flooded cave in Thailand in 2018.

Indian authorities contacted the Thailand company and asked for their professionals who could help them save the 41 men trapped inside the tunnel for days.

Experts from Norway were also sought after by the authorities after slow progress and halts and snags during the rescue operation in the Himalayan state.

“Help is being taken from special teams from Norway and Thailand,” a statement shared by Uttarkashi District Information Officer, Kirti Panwar, said.

“The rescue team has contacted the Thailand company which had rescued the children trapped in the cave,” it added.

In 2018, twelve boys and their soccer coach were rescued by Thai experts after nearly three weeks of being trapped inside the flooded Tham Luang cave.

The statement by Indian authorities also said they reached out to the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute [NGI] to get advice.

International tunnelling expert Arnold Dix was also roped in by the Indian authorities to help with the evacuation of the trapped workers.

The president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, Mr Dix told media today that the rescuers were close to the workers. He said they were now close and it is like being at the “front door and ... knocking on it”.

“We know that the guys are there on the other side,” he said.

In India, several agencies are working on the rescue operation including different central and state agencies.

It has been an anxious wait for the family members of workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand for over 11 days.

Some have flown in from other states and have been provided with accommodation by the state. Many have been waiting outside the main entrance to the tunnel for days.

Several family members of the trapped men have been outside the tunnel this morning waiting with bated breath for their loved ones to be pulled out to safety.

Inderjeet Kumar, a brother of one of the trapped workers, told the Indian Express: “It will be Diwali for us if he comes out today.”

Rajni Kisku from Bihar spoke with her husband, Virender Kisku — who is one of the 41 trapped workers — on 21 November when an audio communication channel was established with the men. She could not hold her tears, the Hindu reported.

Mr Kisku promised his wife that he would be out soon.

Another person identified by his first name by Press Trust of India, Devashish, said he was waiting for his brother-in-law Sonu Shah to be evacuated from the tunnel.

“Today, we were taken inside the tunnel and we spoke to our family members. Sonu repeatedly told me not to worry now and that we would meet soon,” Mr Devashish said yesterday.

His family only got to know about Mr Shah after they saw his name among those trapped inside the tunnel in a newspaper.

“We called him on Diwali but could not reach him. His colleagues told us that his mobile phone had been damaged. Later, we saw his name in a newspaper and learnt that he was trapped inside the tunnel.”

For many other family members, it has been an agonising period of wait.

Raju Nayak’s family in Odisha have been constantly checking for updates on their phone, according to Indian Express.

“We know that all efforts are being made by the administration for the safe rescue of all the workers. I know my son – he is brave and a fighter. He will come back. We all are praying for the safe return of all the workers,” Muchiram Nayak, the trapped worker’s father told the outlet.

A state official for the Uttarakhand government in charge of the Silkyara tunnel rescue operation, Neeraj Khairwal, told the media this afternoon that the chief minister of the state and union minister VK Singh had a conversation with the workers trapped inside.

“Their morale is high. The workers told us that they were fine. All the necessary medicines have been sent. Our psychiatrists and mental health doctors have also had a conversation with the 41 trapped workers. They do not have any problem inside.”

The rescue operation to reach the 41 trapped workers inside the Silkyara tunnel has entered its final stages with just 12 metres of drilling remaining.

However, it is expected to take 12 or more hours to finally reach the workers, Bhaskar Khulbe, a former adviser to the prime minister said today at the tunnel site in Uttarkashi.

Ambulances and doctors have reached the site and are on standby. It is being reported that a team of doctors will first enter the tunnel via the pipe and examine the workers who have been trapped for more than 11 days today and then help them evacuate.

On Tuesday, the first visuals from the tunnel emerged after an endoscopic camera was inserted via a pipe to the relief of the immediate family members of the workers.

After several halts and delays over days due to the technical difficulties of drilling through the rubble, the workers are now expected to be out soon.The chief minister of Uttarakhand has reached the Silkyara tunnel site today.

International tunnelling expert Arnold Dix, who reached the tunnel site this morning, told ANI that they are now close and it is like being at the “front door and ... knocking on it”.

“We know that the guys are there on the other side. I am going to have a look and see what is happening,” he said. As the operation is in its final stages, the rescue teams are now ready with a post-rescue action plan.