Virbhadra lauds rescue teams for extricating two trapped labourers from tunnel

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday expressed satisfaction with the rescue operations to extricate labourers trapped in the under-construction tunnel on the Kiratpur-Manali Road project at <g data-gr-id="14">Tihra</g> village of <g data-gr-id="15">Malyawar</g>, in Bilaspur district. 

Two of the three labourers – Satish Tomar and Mani Ram – were rescued from the tunnel around <g data-gr-id="22">4pm</g>.  The Chief Minister said the operation would continue till the third labourer is rescued. “I hope and pray for the well-being and safety of Hriday Ram, the third labourer who is still trapped,” he said.  He said personnel from Border Road Organisation, State Disaster Management Authority, district administration and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are carrying out the rescue operation. “It is not easy and the work had to be carried out <g data-gr-id="18">scientifically,</g> so that there is no harm to those trapped inside the tunnel,” the CM said. He said that it was unfortunate that the tunnel caved in. “It will be ensured that such incidents do not occur in future,” he said, adding that all safety measures had to be adopted by construction companies before taking up big hydel, tunneling or road projects.