On November 12, 2023, a tunnel collapsed in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, India, trapping 41 workers. The tunnel was part of the Char Dham highway project, a ₹120 billion undertaking to connect four major Hindu pilgrimage sites in the Himalayas. Despite the challenging terrain, the rescue efforts, dubbed "Operation Zindagi," were successful, and all 41 workers were rescued after 17 days.
The tunnel collapse was attributed to a potential geological fault, known as the Shear Zone, which was exacerbated by the construction process. The incident highlights the risks and challenges associated with large-scale infrastructure projects in sensitive ecosystems like the Himalayas.
The Char Dham project has been criticized for its environmental impact, including the felling of over 56,000 trees and the clearance of 600 hectares of forest. The project has also been linked to an increased risk of landslides and flash floods in the region.
The video also touches on the topic of rat hole mining, a hazardous coal extraction method that was used in the rescue efforts, and the need for environmental impact assessments for large-scale projects.
The incident serves as a warning about the potential consequences of unchecked development in fragile ecosystems and highlights the importance of considering environmental concerns in infrastructure projects.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. On November 12, 2023, a tunnel in Uttarkashi collapsed, trapping 41 workers inside.
2. The tunnel was part of a highway project connecting four North Indian Dhams: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri, and Gangotri.
3. The rescue mission began on November 13, 2023, involving over 200 individuals.
4. The rescue operation took 17 days to complete, with the last worker being rescued on November 29, 2023.
5. The tunnel collapse was attributed to a potential geological fault known as the Shear Zone.
6. The construction of the tunnel was part of the Modi government's ₹120 billion Char Dham project.
7. The project was announced in 2016, and the tunnel was expected to reduce the distance between Gangotri and Yamnotri by approximately 20 km and 45 minutes of travel time.
8. The estimated cost of the project was ₹13.83 billion, overseen by Navyug Engineering Company Limited.
9. The tunnel was being constructed using the drill and blast method (DBM), which involves drilling holes in stones and blasting the rocks.
10. The rescue operation involved horizontal drilling to create a passage for the trapped workers.
11. A compressed air pipe was manoeuvred between the debris to provide oxygen to the trapped workers.
12. A separate 4-inch pipe was passed through the debris to deliver snacks and dry fruits to the workers.
13. The rescue operation was carried out by five distinct agencies: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDCL).
14. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also assisted in the rescue operation.
15. The rescue operation involved manual drilling by rat hole miners after the drilling machine broke down.
16. The Supreme Court had ruled that the highway's width should not exceed 7 meters, but the government modified the project to make it 12 meters wide, citing strategic importance.
17. The Char Dham project has resulted in the clearance of 600 hectares of forest, the felling of over 56,000 trees, and the widening of 75% of the Char Dham highway.
18. The Ministry of Highways acknowledged 200 landslides in the area in 2021, and 125 landslides were triggered around the route of the Char Dham project attributed to the construction work.