INDIA, Nov 12, (Agencies): On Sunday, a tragic incident unfolded in northern India as a road tunnel construction project collapsed, trapping at least 40 workers beneath the debris. The collapse took place early in the morning in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, precisely when one group of workers was exiting the tunnel, and another set of replacement workers was entering.

Durgesh Rathodi, an official from the state's disaster response team, provided details from the site, explaining that approximately 200 meters (218 yards) of the tunnel had collapsed. The trapped workers, numbering between 40 to 41, were receiving oxygen through the debris, but rescue efforts were challenged by additional rubble falling as attempts were made to clear the obstruction.

The 4.5-kilometer (2.7-mile) tunnel was under construction to link Silkyara and Dandalgaon, connecting two significant Hindu shrines, Uttarkashi and Yamnotri. Government rescue teams released photographs depicting extensive concrete masses blocking the tunnel, with twisted metal bars from its shattered roof visible amid the debris.

Expressing concern, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami urged prayers for the safe rescue of the trapped workers through social media. Local police officers, while "very optimistic" about a safe rescue, admitted uncertainty regarding the duration of the operation.

The tunnel project is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Char Dham Road initiative, aimed at enhancing connectivity to some of India's most revered Hindu shrines and border regions with China.

Tragically, large-scale construction accidents are not uncommon in India. In January, the ecologically sensitive Uttarakhand witnessed devastating flash floods that claimed at least 200 lives, a catastrophe attributed in part to extensive development practices.