Uttarkashi, EW Correspondent

In response to the recent landslide incident in the Silkyara Tunnel near Uttarkashi, Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted an on-site inspection on Monday to evaluate the ongoing rescue and relief operations. The Chief Minister, accompanied by various officials, personally ventured into the tunnel to assess the status of the operations.

During the inspection, Chief Minister Dhami emphasized the government's top priority of swiftly evacuating the laborers trapped inside the tunnel. He directed officials to expedite relief and rescue efforts, ensuring high efficiency, mutual coordination, and promptness. Assuring full support, he pledged that the government would promptly provide all necessary resources and technical assistance required for the operation.

"All possible options are being considered for relief and rescue operations," stated Chief Minister Dhami. Large-diameter hume pipes are being dispatched from Haridwar and Dehradun for the rescue operations. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that, with collective efforts and divine intervention, the trapped workers would be safely rescued.

Chief Minister Dhami informed that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had personally inquired about the condition of the trapped workers, relief operations, and assured all possible assistance. Central agencies have also been directed to cooperate in the ongoing rescue efforts.

Providing details of the rescue operations, District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela and Superintendent of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi highlighted the continuous efforts to remove debris and the use of heavy excavator machines. Short-creating with machines is being employed to prevent further cracking of debris. Communication with the trapped workers is maintained through pipes, supplying them with oxygen and essentials.

Accompanying Chief Minister Dhami, Garhwal Division Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey and other experts provided necessary instructions to officials engaged in the rescue operation. The presence of local representatives, including Yamunotri MLA Sanjay Doval, block chief Shailendra Kohli, BJP district president Satyendra Rana, and national minister Swaraj Vidvan, underscored the collective efforts being made to address this unfortunate incident.

The government reassures the public that all measures are being taken to ensure the safe and swift rescue of the trapped workers, and updates will be provided as the situation develops.