Tunnel collapse: fears for trapped workers increase
Fears are growing for 41 workers in a partially collapsed highway tunnel in India. Rescue teams are currently trying to free the men, who have been trapped for more than a week, by drilling from three sides, Indian media reported.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized in a conversation with the head of government of the affected Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, that the central government would provide the necessary rescue equipment. According to Modi, the morale of the trapped people must also be maintained. They will continue to be supplied with oxygen, medicine and food via pipes.
The highway tunnel under construction partially collapsed on November 12 after a landslide. The tunnel, which is around 4.5 kilometers long, is being built near the small town of Uttarkashi in the state of Uttarakhand - a region with many Hindu temples that attracts pilgrims.
The increased fears for the trapped workers have raised concerns about potential accidents in the congested traffic surrounding the tunnel collapse. Despite the ongoing rescue efforts, the risk of further traffic-related accidents becomes increasingly significant.
Source: www.dpa.com
