Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel project to resume after safety audits, workers under medical observation

After the dramatic rescue of 41 workers  trapped in the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, plans are in motion to resume construction on the Char Dham project.

A safety audit of the Silkyara tunnel is set to be conducted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), with necessary repairs to ensure its stability before construction resumes on the 4.5 km tunnel. The official assured that all precautions would be taken to ensure the safety of the tunnel this time around.

Meanwhile, the 41 rescued workers were airlifted to AIIMS-Rishikesh for health check-ups, including mental health examinations, and are currently under observation.

Despite the collapse, the 4.5-kilometre Silkyara tunnel project, a key component of the Char Dham Yatra All Weather Road, is set to proceed after a comprehensive safety review and necessary repairs. The Rs 12,000-crore initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted access to the four sacred towns of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath in Uttarakhand.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami met the rescued workers, awarding each a cheque of Rs 1 lakh, and announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for each rat-hole mining expert involved in the successful rescue operation. He was also seen dancing and celebrating with the families of the rescued workers.