LUCKNOW: Rescue workers on Tuesday battled to reach 40 Indian workers trapped inside a collapsed Himalayan highway tunnel for almost 60 hours, drilling through debris to fix a wide steel pipe which they hope can be used to pull the men out.
The trapped men are safe and healthy, authorities said, and are being supplied food, water and oxygen through a pipe. Officials are also in regular contact with them.
The 4.5-km (3-mile) tunnel, which is being built in Uttarakhand state on a national highway that is part of the Char Dham Hindu pilgrimage route, caved in around 5:30 a.m. on Sunday (2400 GMT on Saturday).
There were about 50-60 workers on the night shift and those near the exit of the tunnel got out, while the 40 who were deeper inside were trapped, one worker able to leave the tunnel told local media.
"This is a very challenging job because as we clear debris more debris is falling from the ceiling, so we are also trying to stop that by using cement," Mohsen Shahidi, a senior National Disaster Response Force officer, told news agency ANI.
The debris covered an area of 40 metres (130 ft) and the 40 men were stuck in an area of about 50-60 metres, Shahidi said.
Devendra Singh Patwal, a state disaster management official, said rescue workers had built a platform to insert the evacuation pipe and drilling had begun to push it through.
Patwal said it was not easy to say how long it would take to pull out the workers. A team of geologists had arrived to determine the cause of accident, he added.
The region is prone to landslides, earthquakes and floods and the incident follows events of land subsidence that geologists, residents and officials have blamed on rapid construction in the mountains.
The work on the tunnel stretch commenced in 2018 and was intended to be completed by July 2022, which has now been delayed to May 2024, a government statement said.
CONTROVERSIAL PROJECT
"Initially, we thought it might be a minor collapse and began removing the debris however we could," Rajeev Das, the worker who made it out safely, told the Indian Express newspaper.
Ramesh Kumar, the father of a trapped worker Akhilesh Kumar, said he had last spoken to his son three days before the incident and Akhilesh had planned to visit the family for the Hindu festival of Diwali over the weekend but could not make it.
"His wife is several weeks pregnant and we have not told her as she is already worried and stressed," Kumar said.
The Char Dham highway is one of the most ambitious projects of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. It aims to connect four revered pilgrimage sites through 889 km (551 miles) of two-lane road being built at a cost of $1.5 billion.
The project has faced criticism from environmental experts and some work had been halted after hundreds of houses were damaged by subsidence along the routes.
The impact of the project was not properly assessed before construction started, a report by a Supreme Court-appointed expert committee had said in July 2020.
When it approved the road in 2021, the court cautioned that the government should heed concerns raised by the committee, and draw up a strategy to protect the environment.
The head of the panel quit last year saying he was frustrated its recommendations were not implemented.
The federal government has publicly said it employed environmentally friendly techniques in the design to make geologically unstable stretches safer.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday told ANI that the state would examine work at all tunnels under construction to ensure they are completed safely.
Reuters
Wed Nov 15 2023
![Rescuers drill to reach 40 workers in India tunnel collapse Rescuers drill to reach 40 workers in India tunnel collapse](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-11/81700020386_tunnelcollapse.jpg)
Workers prepare an auger during a rescue operation after a portion of an under-construction tunnel collapsed in Uttarkashi in the northern state of Uttarakhand, India, November 14, 2023. - Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force/via REUTERS
![Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini: Suspek berkhidmat 5 tahun dalam PDRM Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini: Suspek berkhidmat 5 tahun dalam PDRM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721102947_suspekbunuhNurFar.jpg)
Kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini: Suspek berkhidmat 5 tahun dalam PDRM
Anggota berusia 26 tahun terbabit bertugas di Balai Polis Slim River di bawah Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah (IPD) Muallim dengan pangkat lans koperal.
![Perunding pelaburan didakwa terlibat pengubahan wang haram hampir RM1 juta Perunding pelaburan didakwa terlibat pengubahan wang haram hampir RM1 juta](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721117052_SaifulNizamSaharud.jpg)
Perunding pelaburan didakwa terlibat pengubahan wang haram hampir RM1 juta
Seorang perunding pelaburan mengaku tidak bersalah atas empat pertuduhan pengubahan wang haram berjumlah hampir RM1 juta.
Purata suhu meningkat 0.24 darjah celcius per dekad
Berdasarkan rekod dari tahun 1969 hingga 2019, purata suhu bulanan di Semenanjung Malaysia pada bulan Mei 2024 adalah 28.8 darjah celcius manakala purata suhu bulanan pada bulan Mei 1974 iaitu 50 tahun yang lalu adalah 26.6 darjah celcius.
ADUN dari kerajaan perpaduan sertai Pas
Menurut Takiyuddin, keahlian Muhamad Jailani yang juga wakil rakyat UMNO diterima pada 10 Jun tahun lalu, namun diumumkan secara rasmi hari ini.
![Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720085306_FadillahYusof.jpg)
Kerajaan lihat semula perjanjian penjualan air kepada Singapura - Fadillah
Fadillah berkata perkara itu sudah berlaku ketika zaman pentadbiran bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad lagi.
![Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/51658407048_Cabul.jpg)
Pelancong asing ditahan disyaki cabul pekerja spa di Pulau Perhentian
Polis menahan seorang pelancong lelaki warga Maghribi kerana disyaki mencabul seorang juruterapi wanita rakyat tempatan di Pulau Perhentian.
Warga Thailand seludup diesel dihadapkan mahkamah
Seorang pemandu lori warga Thailand dihadapkan ke mahkamah atas menyeleweng 322 liter minyak diesel minggu lalu.
ADUN Rembia sertai Pas: YB Kampar minta buka riben putih
Susulan pengumuman ADUN Rembia sertai Pas dalam sidang media, YB Kampar, Chong Zhemin kemuka Peraturan Mesyuarat dan menyifatkan satu penghinaan besar buat Parlimen.
#SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews
#SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews
![Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41720590984_DatukSeriMohamadH.jpg)
Malaysia, Brunei dalam proses rundingan muktamad sempadan darat negara - Mohamad
Mohamad Hasan berkata buat masa ini, kerja-kerja penandaan dan pengukuran di lapangan telah meliputi 175.96 km atau 33.3 peratus daripada keseluruhan jarak sempadan.
Kim Pan Gon undur diri kesan kepada Harimau Malaya
Apa reaksi peminat Harimau Malaya dan penganalisis sukan mengenai peletakan jawatan Kim Pan-Gon?
![India kekal negara paling ramai penduduk abad ini - PBB India kekal negara paling ramai penduduk abad ini - PBB](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720771313_TBPonggal.jpg)
India kekal negara paling ramai penduduk abad ini - PBB
India dijangka kekal sebagai negara paling ramai penduduk di dunia dan berdepan tekanan ekonomi dan alam sekitar.
![Wanita paling ramai terkorban dalam tragedi rempuhan perhimpunan keagamaan di India Wanita paling ramai terkorban dalam tragedi rempuhan perhimpunan keagamaan di India](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720003970_stampede.jpg)
Wanita paling ramai terkorban dalam tragedi rempuhan perhimpunan keagamaan di India
Kebanyakan mangsa rempuhan di sebuah perhimpunan keagamaan Hindu di negeri Uttar Pradesh, utara India pada Selasa adalah wanita, menurut senarai kematian.
![Lebih 100 terbunuh dalam rempuhan di Uttar Pradesh, India Lebih 100 terbunuh dalam rempuhan di Uttar Pradesh, India](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81719929006_TBIndiastampede.jpg)
Lebih 100 terbunuh dalam rempuhan di Uttar Pradesh, India
Lebih 100 orang dilaporkan terbunuh dan ramai lagi cedera dalam rempuhan semasa satu perhimpunan keagamaan Hindu di negeri Uttar Pradesh.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![India siap sedia tangani banjir besar susulan gelombang haba India siap sedia tangani banjir besar susulan gelombang haba](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71719220250_heatwave.jpg)
India siap sedia tangani banjir besar susulan gelombang haba
India sedang mengambil langkah untuk mengurangkan kesan banjir yang dijangka berlaku selepas ketibaan musim monsun susulan gelombang haba teruk musim panas ini yang menyebabkan kehilangan nyawa.
![19 maut akibat strok haba di India 19 maut akibat strok haba di India](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/41693112961_CuacaPanas.jpg)
19 maut akibat strok haba di India
Sekurang-kurangnya lima orang maut akibat strok haba di ibu kota India dan hampir 14 lagi meninggal dunia di bandar jiran Noida dalam tempoh 72 jam yang lepas.
![13 orang maut di negeri Tamil Nadu, India selepas minum arak tiruan 13 orang maut di negeri Tamil Nadu, India selepas minum arak tiruan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-03/61647436164_TBINDIARAPE.jpg)
13 orang maut di negeri Tamil Nadu, India selepas minum arak tiruan
Sekurang-kurangnya 13 orang maut pada Rabu selepas meminum arak tiruan di negeri Tamil Nadu, India.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![India arah siasatan selepas insiden mencemaskan di landasan lapangan terbang Mumbai India arah siasatan selepas insiden mencemaskan di landasan lapangan terbang Mumbai](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61717943361_AirIndia.jpg)
India arah siasatan selepas insiden mencemaskan di landasan lapangan terbang Mumbai
Pengawal selia penerbangan India arah siasatan selepas insiden mencemaskan di landasan yang menyaksikan pendaratan dan pelepasan pesawat berlaku dalam sela beberapa saat.
![PM Anwar ucap tahniah kepada Modi menang pilihan raya India PM Anwar ucap tahniah kepada Modi menang pilihan raya India](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41717580309_IndiaMalaysia.jpg)
PM Anwar ucap tahniah kepada Modi menang pilihan raya India
Anwar memuji kejayaan pelaksanaan demokrasi di India itu, yang mencatatkan lebih 642 juta pengundi sejak 19 April lepas.