A 21-year-old construction worker from Jharkhand died after a section of a concrete lining in the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district collapsed early on Thursday. Authorities are currently investigating the incident to determine the root reason for the structural failure.
Concrete Lining Collapsed Inside the Tunnel
The accident is believed to have occurred at about 2 AM, nearly 900 metres from the Barkot side of the 4.5-kilometre Silkyara-Barkot tunnel, officials said.
Prashant Arya, Uttarkashi District Magistrate, said a heavy portion of the tunnel's concrete shotcrete lining suddenly cracked and collapsed, falling directly on the worker.
After falling debris struck the worker, he was severely injured and died at the site.
No Other Workers Trapped
Officials said the tunnel remained accessible after the incident and that no other workers had been trapped during the collapse.
Prashant Arya, District Magistrate, stated that while no other labourers are believed to be trapped under the debris, the final details will be determined after the official inquiry has concluded.
The site has been visited by senior district officials, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Barkot, who have been instructed to submit a detailed report.
NHIDCL Launches Investigation
After the accident, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) commenced an investigation into the incident.
Officials said the investigation will focus on determining precisely why the concrete lining collapsed.
Silkyara Tunnel Was in Headlines in 2023
The Silkyara tunnel garnered international attention in November 2023 when a major collapse blocked almost 60 metres of the tunnel, trapping 41 workers inside.
The workers were trapped for 17 days before they were rescued in an intricate multi-agency operation.
Several agencies, including specialist rat-hole miners, dug through debris and twisted steel to safely reach the trapped workers in the rescue mission.
Both in India and across the world, the successful rescue operation was widely acclaimed.
Investigation Underway
Law enforcement officials are now investigating the latest accident, trying to determine whether there were any safety lapses or structural issues that caused the collapse.
The investigation report would help to determine exactly what caused the incident and if more safety measures will be needed at the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel project to prevent similar accidents in the future.