Adhir Raises Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse Issue, Cites Reasons For Collapse

New Delhi

Congress Leader in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, addressed the collapse of a section of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand, where 41 workers were trapped for 17 days.

Chowdhury expressed concerns over such incidents, linking them to the government's alleged impatience with geologists' warnings. He cited various instances, including the Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project and the Teesta River Flash Flood. Emphasizing reasons for these incidents, he mentioned fractured rock, water seepage, landslide-prone Himalayan rocks, inadequate geological studies, and the absence of escape tunnel designs.

Chowdhury criticized the government for not heeding geologists' warnings. Despite ambiguity in statements, he sought clarification on the existence of an escape route in the Silkyara tunnel. The recent rescue operation involved rat hole miners. The government's response to such incidents remains a matter of concern, according to Chowdhury. The multi-agency operation successfully rescued the trapped workers on November 12 after the tunnel's collapse in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi.