Silkyara tunnel collapse: Top disaster management body to frame SOP on tunnel rescue
Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) will come up with standard operating procedures (SOP) on tunnel rescue after discussing it with other stakeholders, officials said. The apex disaster management body is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
NDMA is mandated to lay down the policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management.
When contacted, NDMA (member) Syed Ata Hasnain told ET, «NDMA ensures that it does a post-event analysis of all major incidents and challenging disasters. The rescue team's experience will be documented and an SOP on tunnel rescue will be prepared in consultation with the other stakeholders.»
The Silkyara tunnel collapse in which 41 workers have been trapped since November 12 is one of a first of its kind incident and the entire international community, including disaster experts, are watching the rescue mission keenly.
The agencies involved in the operation have managed to ensure supply of food, clothes and other essential items and also managed to establish a direct communication line with them.
Experts also pointed out lack of escape tunnels in such a large project as the escape tunnels can help facilitate rescue work during an emergency. «We will carry out a detailed analysis to find out lapses on the part of the contractor or subcontractor, if any, but the primary task at present is to prevent and safeguard the lives of workers trapped inside the tunnel,» said a senior government functionary who did not wish to be identified.
The Silkyara project was sanctioned in 2018 for constructing a 4.531 km two-lane bi-directional Silkyara bend-Barkot tunnel.
