Palghar soil cave-in: Army, Navy join efforts to rescue excavator operator, says CM Shinde

CM Shinde at the site on Friday. Pic/CMO

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said that the Indian Army, Navy and Coast Guard have joined the efforts to rescue the excavator operator who remains trapped with the equipment after a cave-in at a water project in Palghar district of Maharashtra 17 days ago, reported the PTI.

An excavator operator was trapped after the soil and wall structure collapsed during work on a tunnel shaft at the Surya water supply project site in Sasun Navghar village, some 50 km from Mumbai, on the night of May 29.

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The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other rescue teams have been working at the site, but neither the man nor the machine has been spotted, according to the PTI.

CM Shinde was accompanied by MMRDA Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee and Palghar Collector Govind Bodke. He visited the site on Friday and reviewed the rescue efforts.

Talking to reporters, CM Shinde said, "Excavator operator Rakesh Yadav was involved in an accident while working on the Surya pipeline project. Despite extensive rescue operations involving local teams and NDRF, he remains trapped. The Indian Army, Navy, and Coast Guard now have joined the search. We are committed to his rescue."

The Maharashtra Chief Minister announced compensation of Rs 50 lakh to Yadav's family in the event of his death and assured a job to a member.

CM Shinde further said that considering the complexity of the situation, professors from the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) will oversee the rescue. The experts will also conduct a thorough inquiry to ascertain the cause of the incident and prevent future occurrences, CM Shinde said, the news agency reported on Friday.

Earlier, Palghar district disaster cell chairman Vivekanand Kadam had told the PTI that the NDRF's presence at the site of Palghar soil cave-in remains critical for guidance and future progress once the concrete walls are shattered and demolished. He had earlier stated that the rescuers had dug holes in the tunnel shaft and were seeking to locate the trapped operator with cameras. The rescue teams are moving gently to avoid further cave-ins, stated the PTI report.

(with PTI inputs)