Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Visits Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse Site, Assesses Rescue Operations

Uttarkashi: Amid the ongoing efforts to rescue 40 workers trapped in the collapsed Uttarkashi tunnel, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the scene to assess the rescue operation. Accompanied by Uttarakhand Chief Secretary SS Sandhu, they expressed commitment to explore all possibilities for the rescue.

Chief Minister Dhami assured full support from the state government to the agencies involved in the operation, emphasizing the top priority of saving lives. He mentioned the deployment of various expert teams and the government’s readiness to provide any necessary assistance.

Deputy Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, Mangesh Ghildiyal, and a former PMO advisor visited the site to evaluate the situation. The local administration announced plans to deploy a tree-cutting expert, Ashiq Hussain, to aid in the rescue efforts, using vertical drilling from the upper part of the tunnel.

Uttarkashi District Forest Officer DP Baluni explained the strategy of drilling a hole approximately 300-350 feet deep from a spot above the tunnel. Additionally, micro-tunneling expert Chris Cooper arrived to oversee the rescue operation.

The tunnel, under construction between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway, collapsed on November 12. The rescue teams are working diligently to extricate the trapped workers, with the state government emphasizing their commitment to saving lives.