Rescue after tunnel collapse in India continues
More than two days after the partial collapse of a tunnel shell in northern India, the rescue of the 40 or so people trapped inside is continuing. Emergency services drilled 90-centimetre-wide steel pipes through the rubble on Tuesday, according to local media reports. These are intended to allow the workers to get outside.
It was reported that the people inside were still doing well. They are being supplied with food, water and oxygen. The son of a worker was able to speak to his father briefly through a ventilation pipe on Tuesday, the NDTV channel reported. He told him that all those trapped were unharmed and that the family should not worry.
The accident occurred early on Sunday morning for reasons that are as yet unknown, around 200 meters from the entrance to the freeway tunnel. The approximately 4.5-kilometer-long tunnel is being built near the small town of Uttarkashi in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. According to a statement from the Indian government on the project, it is intended to shorten travel times in the region as well as protect the environment, as no trees need to be felled.
The construction site had a history of minor accidents prior to the tunnel collapse, increasing concerns about safety measures in place. Despite the ongoing traffic disruptions caused by the emergency, local authorities have assured commuters of alternative routes.
Source: www.dpa.com
