Uttarakhand Tunnel Accident: Concrete Slab Kills 21-Year-Old Worker
A 21-year-old worker from Jharkhand was killed early Thursday after a concrete slab fell inside the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand, according to district officials.
The accident occurred around 2 am when a portion of the tunnel's concrete lining collapsed about 900 metres inside the tunnel from the Barkot side. The worker was struck on the neck while moving through the tunnel and later died during treatment at Naugaon Hospital.
Uttarkashi District Magistrate Prashant Arya confirmed the incident and directed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Barkot to assess the situation, determine the cause of the collapse, and check whether the executing agency complied with prescribed safety standards. The DM also instructed officials to initiate compensation procedures for the victim's family.
The Silkyara-Barkot tunnel gained national attention three years ago when 41 workers were trapped for days before being rescued in a dramatic operation. The current collapse is unrelated to that incident but raises concerns about ongoing construction safety.
