Bilaspur tunnel collapse: Rescue op for third worker resumes, Governor visits site

It is feared that Hriday Ram was buried alive when the under-construction tunnel caved in on September 12. The two other workers, Satish Tomar and Mani Ram, were pulled out safely two days ago.

The family of Hriday Ram reached the site from their village, Dayargi, in Mandi and protested against the company’s (Himalayan Construction) failure to reach them in the past two weeks. They also demanded to know why was the rescue operation suspended.

[related-post]

Governor Acharya Devvrat, who was on his way to Hamirpur, paid a surprise visit to the site where the rescue operation is underway.

Seeking the Governor’s intervention, the family, backed by panchayat representatives from the area, demanded suitable financial assistance to the family and job to his sons.

A high-level government team comprising Additional Chief Secretary ( Disaster management) Tarun Shridhar and Additional CS (PWD) Narinder Chauha, besides top engineers, are also in Bilaspur to study the reported seismic activities in the area. Divisional Commissioner, Mandi, Devesh also reached the site.

Deputy Commissioner, Bilaspur, Mansi Sahay Thakur, said: “At the intervention of the state government, particularly Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, the company today announced Rs 5 lakh financial assistance for Hriday Ram’s family. The company has also assured jobs to his sons and monetary assistance for his daughters’ marriage.”

Hriday Ram has eight children, including six daughters.

On Tuesday, the company has also given an assistance of Rs 1 lakh each to Satish Tomar and Mani Ram, the two survivors of the tragedy .

The Governor also directed the administration to facilitate the family’s stay at the site and their visits till there is a final word on Hriday Ram’s fate. Shridhar said the operation was suspended temporarily

after some cracks appeared in the tunnel and the Deputy Commissioner decided to consult the experts as more lives, he said, cannot be put to danger.

“The drilling has been stopped till a proper study is done by the experts .The rescue operation will continue. No timeframe could be given for its completion, as the issue of stability of the tunnel too has be addressed,” Shridar told The Indian Express.

Meanwhile, Army teams led by Col S Thomas, who belongs to army engineering core, and BRO’s Director, Tunnels, R S Rao, who is already involved in the rescue operation, have been asked to assist the government and company in a detailed survey of the area in view of fresh seismic activity.

No tunnel activity will be allowed till they submit their report and a fresh strategy is worked out.