AMN
In Uttarakhand, rescue and search operations is being conducted on two fronts vertical as well as horizontal in the tunnel at the point where 25 to 35 people are feared to be trapped from Sunday morning when the avalanche hit the power project. The commandos of Navy are also conducting search operation along with the Alaknanda river.
In all, 34 bodies have been recovered so far and around 170 people are still missing. The vertical drilling operations at the Tapowan tunnel started by rescue teams at 2 A.M. in morning to peep into the slush flushing tunnel 12 to 13 metres below. This is being done from the tunnel where rescue teams are presently taking out slush.
DIG of ITBP Aparna Kumar said that the technical team is also doing survey to find the people. She said that there is a possibility that some more people could be stuck inside the tunnel. Drone camera is also being used to know the whereabouts of the trapped people.
DGP of state Ashok Kumar said that drilling work was suspended temporarily as the machine broke down. He said that DNA samples of the 34 recovered bodies are being preserved and 10 of them have been identified so far.
Meanwhile, a team of Navy Commandos is conducting search operation for the missing persons and dead bodies in the Alaknanda river in hundred and 50-kilometre stretch from Tapovan to Srinagar.