Panel points to lapses in planning stage of collapsed U'khand tunnel

The panel set up by the Uttarakhand government to investigate the collapse of the Silkyara tunnel in which 41 workers were trapped for 17 days has found the detailed project report (DPR) did not include "geotechnical and geophysical" investigations, underlining shortcomings in the planning phase of the project itself.

- Amit Bathla

The report also said that there were no "adequate" plans for evacuation in case of a collapse.

The panel's 70-page report, submitted to the government in December and reviewed by HT, looked at "critical" geological and construction concerns that might have been overlooked while building the strategic tunnel that cuts travel time between Silkyara and Barkot by an hour.

"Future projects should prioritise comprehensive site studies to minimise unforeseen geological surprises. Conducting thorough geological surveys before initiating tunnel projects is critical...to ensure that tunnels are designed to withstand the geological challenges of the region," the report said.

On November 12, the Uttarakhand government set up a six-member expert committee to probe the tunnel collapse.

Shantanu Sarkar, director of Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Centre, was its chairman.

The report pointed to inadequate exploration of the mountain at the time of preparing the DPR, which is the basis for the entire project.

"The number of boreholes during the DPR stage appears insufficient. More exploratory boreholes and geophysical investigations can identify critical geological features and minimise risks during construction, the report added.