Tunnel collapses in India, at least 40 workers trapped

At least 40 workers are trapped after a road tunnel they were building collapsed in northern India.

"About 200 meters of the tunnel collapsed," Durgesh Rathodi, a disaster response official in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, said from the scene on November 12, adding that the incident happened early in the morning when workers there were changing shifts.

The scene of a tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand state, northern India, on November 12. Photo: Indian Express

"About 40 to 41 workers are trapped inside. Oxygen is being supplied from outside through the rubble, but a lot of debris has fallen as rescuers try to clear the obstruction," he added.

The 4.5 km long tunnel is being built between Silkyara and Dandalgaon to connect the two holiest Hindu temples, Uttarkashi and Yamnotri.

Images released by rescue teams showed huge piles of concrete blocking the tunnel with metal bars protruding from the front of the rubble.

"May God bless the trapped workers and bring them out safely," Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami wrote on social media X.

District disaster response officer Devendra Patwal said rescue operations were underway. "The good news is that the trapped workers are not crowded and have about 400 square metres of space to move around and breathe. They have enough oxygen to survive for more than 8 to 10 hours and that will give us time to carry out the rescue," he said.

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

Vu Hoang (According to AFP , Indian Express )

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