Tunnel rescue operation continues on three fronts

ITA president Arnold Dix, who arrived at the site in Uttarakhand in northern India at the weekend, confirmed to T&TI overnight that work was ongoing on establishing evacuation routes at both ends of the under-construction tunnel, as well as a vertical shaft.

Today Reuters news agency has reported that encountering a lattice steel girder arch slowed progress overnight but drilling would continue today.

The 4.5km Silkyara Bend-Barkot Tunnel in the Himalayan region is being developed for National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) to link four important Hindu pilgrimage sites with a two-lane road.

As the rescue operation continued, yesterday the government announced that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would conduct a safety audit of 29 tunnels under construction. The tunnels, spread over a wide geographical area, have a total length of around 79km.

NHAI and tunnel experts, including Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) personnel, will inspect the tunnels and report within seven days.

NHAI has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) to review the design, drawing and safety aspects of tunnel construction and slope stabilisation.

In September, NAHI signed a similar agreement with DMRC to review the planning, designing, construction and maintenance of tunnels, bridges and other structures on highways across India.