Shimla: Three employees of Himalayan Construction Company executing the Kiratpur-Ner Chowk four laning project were trapped when a portion of a tunnel at Tihra, 15 Km from Bilaspur, caved in last night.
The number of people trapped or buried under the debris would have been much more but most of the workers of the evening shift had left and only three employees including the foreman and overseer were present when the tragedy struck.
Huge quantity of muck has blocked the tunnel in a 100-metre patch and the condition of the workers was not known. The district administration and police officers are at the spot for rescue operations and help of NDRF has also been sought, Project Director, NHAI, S Kaul said.
Efforts are being made to induce oxygen into the tunnel and insert a 1.5 diameter pipe to make esacpe route for the people trapped inside the 1.4 km long tunnel with 12 metres diametre.
The cause of mishap in yet to ascertained but experts believe that it might have happened due to sinking of some portion.
"The tunnel looked strong and there was no such sign when I visited the site few days back but it is possible that there might be some underlying soft layers," Kaul said.
Superintendent of Police, Bilaspur, Balbir Thakur told from the spot that the project authorities have informed that only three workers had been trapped and rescue works are in full swing. Heavy machinery had been deployed to remove debris.
So far 250 metres of the 1.4 metres tunnel has been constructed.
