Rescuers dig through debris to reach 140 metres into Tapovan tunnel

Dehradun, Feb 9 : Rescuers dug overnight through debris and move about 140 metres into a blocked tunnel of the Tapovan Vishnugad hydroelectric project though there was still no contact with persons still trapped there, police officials said on Tuesday.
After overnight excavation at the project site on Dhauliganga river in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, jawans of the Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police entered the tunnel that was blocked due to mud debris brought by Sunday morning’s flash flood.
“The next few hours are very crucial and we may be able to open the blockade today itself,” state DGP Ashok Kumar said.
Officials said special equipments would be used to speed up rescue operation inside the tunnel.
The state government last evening said that 197 people were missing whereas 26 bodies have been recovered so far.
The missing included persons feared trapped inside the tunnel.