3 ft dia pipe to be pushed in for rescue

All 40 trapped workers safe; collapse occurred between 205 m and 265 m on Silkyara side on Sunday at 5.30 am

- NARENDRA SETHI

WITH part of an under-construction tunnel collapsing in Uttarkashi on Sunday following landslides, trapping about 40 workers in its wake, operations are on to clear the debris and rescue them. All workers are safe and are being provided food and oxygen through preexisting pipes.

The accident happened in the Silkyara side of the tunnel that would terminate at Barkot when it is complete.

The Union road transport ministry said the caving in began at 5.30 am when about 40 workers were inside the tunnel doing reprofiling work 260-265 metre from the Silkyara portal.

A collapse occurred between 205 metres and 260 metres, trapping all 40 workers, the statement said.