By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Uttarkashi, 16 Jul: A young worker aged just 21 years from Jharkhand was killed in a tragic accident inside the under-construction Silkyara Tunnel on the Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarkashi district early this morning.
According to preliminary information, the incident occurred at around 2 a.m. today when a block of the tunnel’s shotcrete (concrete) lining suddenly broke off and collapsed approximately 900 metres inside the tunnel from the Barkot side, burying the worker under the debris. The officials also claimed that this incident is very different to the November 2023 tunnel collapse. The deceased worker hailed from Jharkhand and an investigation is underway. Detailed information will be shared after the sub-divisional magistrate’s report.
The officials claim that regular construction work was underway inside the tunnel when a large block of lining gave way, triggering panic among the workers present at the site. Fellow workers immediately launched rescue efforts and rushed the injured labourer out of the tunnel. He was taken to the Community Health Centre at Naugaon by the company management, but doctors declared him brought dead owing to the severe head and body injuries he had sustained.
The deceased has been identified to be a resident of Jharkhand. Following the incident, the body was taken into police custody and was sent for post-mortem examination. Barkot Police Station in-charge Subhash Chandra shared that the body had been kept in the mortuary while the police are carrying out all the necessary legal formalities. He added that some of the deceased worker’s colleagues were present in Naugaon and the family members have been informed about the tragedy.
Project Manager Sriram of Navayuga Engineering Company, which is executing the tunnel project, also confirmed the accident. According to the District Disaster Operations Centre, the exact cause of the mishap is yet to be ascertained and is being investigated.
The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has also launched a detailed probe into the accident. The officials stated that a factual report is being prepared and the exact cause of the collapse, along with other technical aspects of the incident, will be confirmed only after completion of the investigation. The corporation is examining whether any technical or other factors contributed to the accident.
At the same time, District Magistrate of Uttarkashi, Prashant Arya shared that the district administration went into alert mode immediately after receiving information about the incident. He directed the SDM Barkot to visit the site without delay, assess the situation in detail, ascertain the actual cause of the accident and conduct a thorough examination of the safety standards being followed by the executing agency. He also directed the officials to ensure that all the legal procedures are completed, while every possible assistance is extended to the bereaved family and the safety of other workers engaged inside the tunnel is adequately ensured.
The latest accident once again brings the under construction Silkyara tunnel into focus. It may be recalled that in November 2023, a section of the same tunnel had collapsed during construction under the Char Dham All-Weather Road Project, trapping 41 workers inside the tunnel for 17 days. They were eventually rescued safely after one of India’s most complex and closely watched rescue operations.
The fresh incident once again raises concerns over safety standards at the construction site. The local residents and the labour organisations have demanded an impartial inquiry into the accident and a strict action against anyone found responsible and stronger enforcement of safety measures during construction. All eyes are now on the NHIDCL investigation report, which is expected to establish the exact circumstances that led to the fatal accident.
