Uttarkashi Tunnel: Expert Enquiry Committee Formed to Probe Causes of Collapse, Lok Sabha Told

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday that the Centre has formed an Expert Enquiry Committee to investigate the causes of the Uttarkashi tunnel crash last month.

On November 12, a collapse occurred in the under-construction tunnel to Barkot wherein a debris fell into a 60-m stretch near the Silkyara portal entrance. Forty-one workers got trapped inside the tunnel. The workers were stuck there for days, and were rescued on November 28.

The ministry told the House that they ensured regular supply of oxygen, power, communication, food items, water and essential items like toothpaste, toothbrush, undergarments, towels, socks, woollen inners, to the stranded workers during the operation.

“Regular medical advice for food, nutrition, medicines and psychiatric consultation was also provided to the stranded workers…. Govt. has constituted an Expert Enquiry Committee to investigate the causes of the incident,” the ministry added.

The Project

As part of the Char Dham Mahamarg Pariyojana, the ministry has taken up the construction of the 4.5-km-long two-lane bi-directional tunnel at Silkyara to join the Gangotri and Yamunotri axis under the Radi pass in Uttarakhand and sanctioned for a total project cost of Rs 1,383 crore in March 2018.

The construction of the tunnel will ease the journey for pilgrims as it will provide all-weather connectivity and reduce a 25.6-km snow-affected length of NH-134 (Dharasu-Barkot-Yamunotri road) to 4.5 km, resulting in the reduction of travel time to five minutes from 50 minutes at present.

“The work is delayed with present progress of work at 56% and is likely to be completed by May 2024. At present heading in about 4,060 m – 90% length is completed and excavation work for 477 m length is going on along with other activities of benching of heading done portion,” the ministry said.

Heading is done up to 2,350 m from the Silkyara side and up to 1,710 m from the Barkot side. Navayuga Engineering Company Limited is undertaking the project and the work commenced in July 2018 with intended completion by July 2022.