The Tunnel Collapse in Uttarakhand: A Genuinely Alarming Reminder for India

Arnold Dix, an Australian underground expert called in as a consultant by the Indian government, has described the ongoing tunnel rescue operation in Uttarakhand as the toughest he has ever encountered. The Silkyara tunnel is part of the Char Dham project, a major road construction initiative in the Himalayan state worth $1.5 billion. The tunnel collapsed, trapping 41 workers inside for over two weeks. Efforts to clear the blockage and create an exit passage have faced numerous challenges, including the breakdown of the main drilling machine. The unstable mountain topography and potential water sources above the tunnel pose additional risks. Bernard Gruppe, a consultancy hired for the project, had previously highlighted the challenging geological conditions. The region's young and changing mountain range, prone to seismic activity, has sedimentary rocks that make it inherently unstable. The Char Dham project aims to widen existing highways, construct tunnels, flyovers, and bridges, and establish railway and hydropower tunnels. However, environmentalists warn that such massive infrastructure development is unsuitable for these fragile mountains and advocate for a terrain-specific approach to ensure disaster and climate resilience. The rescue operation for the trapped workers in Uttarakhand has highlighted the urgent need to address the risks associated with infrastructure development in this ecologically sensitive region.