A five-option action plan was announced on Sunday by Secretary of the Ministry of Road, Transport, and Highways Anurag Jain, as rescue efforts to free the 40 trapped workers at the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi have been ongoing for eight days. According to Jain the government has decided to make every effort to save the lives of the laborers who are stuck in the Silkyara tunnel.
“The government has taken a decision to work on all fronts to save the precious lives of the labourers trapped in the tunnel at Silkyara. In a high-level meeting today, various options were examined based on technical advice and 5 options are to be pursued,” he added.
“In addition to these 5 options, a couple of additional pipes for redundancy of food support would also be put up,” he added.
According to Anurag Jain, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHDCL), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC) and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) have been assigned one option each.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the construction wing of the Indian Army have also been assisting in the rescue operation, he said.
Jain went on to say that the NHIDCL Managing Director, who is based in Silkyara, has been given the responsibility of liaising with all central agencies. “Dr. Neeraj Khairwal, Secretary, has been designated by the Uttarakhand government as the Nodal Officer for coordination. Senior officers from all the involved agencies have been stationed at the location,” he continued. Jain continued, “The center has made it very clear that everything that can be done for the rescue operation must be done.”