All efforts on to evacuate labourers trapped in Uttarakhand tunnel, operation might last 2-3 days: Union minister

Pic/PTI

Union minister General V K Singh on Thursday said all efforts are being made for an early and safe evacuation of 40 labourers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in this Uttarakhand district for more than four days, but the rescue operation could take two or three more days, reported news agency PTI.

"It (evacuation) can happen even sooner than that but in circumstances like this, we should keep an outer limit of two-three days so that we can deal with an obstacle if it comes," Singh told reporters after visiting the tunnel, reported PTI.

"Our priority is that they stay safe. Our priority is that they are evacuated at the earliest. All efforts are being made for that," the Union minister of state for road transport and highways said after reviewing the rescue operation.

He said he has spoken to the trapped labourers. "They are safe and their morale is high," Singh added, reported PTI.

"The workers are trapped between the collapsed part of the tunnel and a two-km-long area where there is a constant supply of oxygen, electricity, food and water," he said, reported PTI.

Speaking on the disaster-vulnerability of the area where a cave-in occurred on Sunday, Singh said, "According to data, it was stable for four-and-a-half years. But for some reason, the cave-in occurred."

He said these mountains are young and fragile, reported PTI.

"All this will be examined once the rescue operation is over," he added, reported PTI.

Asked whether there will be a high-level inquiry into the reasons that led to the collapse, Singh said it could be considered once the rescue operation is over, reported PTI.

"We would look at that when our minds are settled. Our focus now is to evacuate our people safely as early as possible," he said, reported PTI.

An alternative strategy is also in place and if one machine stops for some reason, the other will start working, the Union minister added, reported PTI.

"We will not let the operation stop. Rest assured," he said, reported PTI.

Singh said the central and state governments and all the agencies engaged in the rescue operation are working in close coordination with each other for the safe evacuation of the labourers, and Prime Minister Narendra is being regularly updated about the developments, reported PTI.

Constant consultation is also being held with tunnelling technology experts from a global organisation who possess the highest level of expertise in rescue operations of a specific nature, he said, reported PTI.

Consultations are also being held with mining and railway experts so that the most suitable methods are adopted for the safe evacuation of the labourers, the Union minister added, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)