Dehradun, Nov 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has engaged in discussions with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, assessing the ongoing rescue efforts at the Silkyara tunnel aimed at evacuating 41 workers trapped for over a week. Emphasizing the need for maintaining the morale of the workers, PM Modi assured the provision of necessary rescue equipment and resources through collaborative efforts between central and state agencies.
This marks the third conversation between the prime minister and CM Dhami regarding the rescue operations at the tunnel. The chief minister provided a detailed update on the rescue operations, assuring PM Modi that all trapped workers are secure, receiving a constant supply of oxygen, nutritious food, and water. All involved agencies are working in close coordination under expert guidance to expedite the rescue operations.
CM Dhami, having personally inspected the site, assured the prime minister of continuous monitoring of the rescue efforts. Medical teams are stationed at the site, and the Prime Minister’s Office team is overseeing operations after conducting an on-the-spot review of the tunnel.
Since the collapse of portions of the tunnel on November 12 due to a landslide, rescue operations have been underway on a war footing. The Silkyara tunnel, integral to the ambitious Char Dham all-weather road project of the central government, is situated approximately 30 km from the district headquarters of Uttarkashi, requiring a seven-hour drive from the Uttarakhand capital, Dehradun.
