Ahmad Adil
15 November 2023•Update: 15 November 2023
NEW DELHI
On day four of operations to rescue nearly 40 workers trapped after a tunnel collapsed in northern India, authorities said heavy machinery is being brought in to rescue the trapped workers, calling them "safe."
Ashok Kumar, Uttarakhand’s police chief, said on Wednesday that relief and rescue work is going on "war footing" and heavy machinery has been brought to the incident site.
"Drilling work is being done with an Auger drilling machine. The pace of drilling is slow due to natural obstacles," he wrote on X.
"All people are requested to maintain patience and faith. Soon all the workers will be rescued safely," he said.
A massive operation has been underway at the site since Sunday morning in the area, with several rescue agencies involved in rescuing the trapped workers.
An official in the state's Uttarkashi district, where the collapse happened, told Anadolu on Wednesday that the workers are safe and they are constantly being provided food and oxygen.
On Wednesday afternoon a protest by workers broke out at the site of the accident where the relief and rescue operation is ongoing, local media reported.
After the incident, authorities managed to establish communication with the trapped workers, who were reported to be safe.
On Sunday “a collapse occurred" and all "40 workers based on the contractor tunnel entry register were trapped inside the tunnel," according to India's Road Transport and Highways Ministry.
The tunnel is being built for a national highway that is part of the Char Dham Hindu pilgrimage route – one of the most ambitious projects of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.
