For almost a week, 40 workers have remained trapped within an under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, following a landslide that sealed off its entrance. Rescue operations, employing various tactics such as inserting wide pipes for potential escape routes, have been going on since November 12.
Struggle inside Silkyara tunnel
These labourers have been sustained with vital supplies — oxygen, food, and water — via a pipe, and officials note their responsiveness. In a recent development, authorities have provided antidepressants to help manage the emotional toll of this distressing experience.
The tunnel, a crucial part of the Char Dham highway project spanning nearly 900 kilometers, aims to enhance travel for tourists and pilgrims visiting local Hindu temples. However, this incident, one among several disasters in recent years in the Himalayan region, underscores the inherent dangers of construction in this geologically sensitive region.
Critics argue that the development of dams, roads, and significant infrastructure contributes to the escalated frequency and severity of such incidents.
Science of Himalayas
Over time, scientists have scrutinized these large-scale projects, citing their detrimental impact on the planet’s youngest mountain range. According to a latest report by the WION, Dr CP Rajendran, a renowned geologist, said that there is a growing necessity of understanding the region’s geology before any excavation occurs, highlighting the absence of proper environmental or geological assessments.
Large-scale development in the Himalayas faces compounded risks due to climate change, with the region experiencing accelerated warming compared to the global average. Dr Rajendran firmly opposed massive projects like the Uttarkashi tunnel in this dynamic and growing mountain range.
A study by the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology identified over half of Uttarakhand, including Uttarkashi, as ‘high and very high’ landslide-prone zones. Experts suggest that the disaster may also be linked to the geological composition of the area, particularly its limestone and soft rocks, prone to collapsing under the pressures of extensive construction.
The great collision: 50 million years ago, when India rammed into Asia
The Himalayas are the youngest mountains on this planet. Known as the fold mountains, the Himalayas were formed 50 million years ago on Earth, which is roughly 4.5 billion years old. The Himalayas are called fold-mountains because of the way they were created. Scientists believe that these mighty mountains came into existence due to collision between two tectonic plates. When India rammed into Eurasia around 50 million years ago, the Himalayas were formed. Scientists say that the ‘impinging’ of two landmasses is still an ongoing geological activity. This means that the Himalayas are rising at a rate of 1 cm per year. For a mountain range, a growth rate of 10 km in a million years is actually very fast!