DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government has appointed a six-member expert committee to conduct an investigation into the Uttarakhand tunnel accident. Authorities are saying that nearly two days will be required to rescue the labourers trapped in the tunnel.

A part of the under-construction tunnel of the Char Dham All Weather Highway project in Uttarkashi district collapsed early on Sunday morning. 40 workers are trapped inside the tunnel.

More than 150 personnel, including officers of the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), are carrying out round-the-clock rescue operations. Most of the trapped workers are natives of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar. Yesterday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the accident site.

Trucks laden with 900 mm diameter pipes started arriving at Silkyara since yesterday night. Authorities are planning to rescue the trapped workers using these pipes. The other day, authorities had communicated with the trapped workers through the walkie-talkie. It is learnt that no one is injured. All basic amenities including oxygen, food and water were provided to them through the pipe.