Dehradun: A final probe report on the Silkyara tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand has revealed significant negligence by multiple agencies involved in the project. The report points to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparers, the construction firm, the supervising consultant, and the National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) as responsible parties.
The investigation, led by former Border Road Organisation (BRO), Director General R.K. Dhiman found that the tunnel’s alignment did not comply with basic tunneling principles. Alarmingly, the contractor failed to address 21 minor collapses, despite these issues being flagged by the Authority Engineer.
Lack of coordination and communication among stakeholders
Along with the negligence of multiple agencies involved in the construction of this tunnel, which is also the part of an ambitious Char Dham all-weather road project, it was emphasised in the report submitted to Ministry of Road Transport last week that lack of coordination and communication among stakeholders was also a major factor responsible for the collapse. In its probe report, the panel has recommended that the government consider disciplinary action against responsible personnel and officers, issuing a thorough inquiry into the matter.
The construction company didn’t conduct a proper investigation
The probe into the Silkyara tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand has revealed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was based on limited geological and geotechnical investigations. The report suggests that the tunnel’s alignment could have been modified to avoid weak or shear zones, but no expert third-party review was conducted, which is against standard practice. This report also highlights that the construction company failed to conduct a proper investigation, leading to issues with both design and execution. It holds the National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) responsible for negligence, noting that no measures were taken to address the shear zones.
Reprofiling was conducted in distressed zones
The report also highlights that reprofiling was conducted in distressed zones without ensuring the safety and safe passage of workers. Additionally, the methodology for reprofiling was not approved by the concerned senior geologist and material engineer, who are crucial for identifying geological issues and ensuring the quality of work.
MoRTH constituted a five-member committee to investigate the collapse
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) constituted a five-member committee on December 6, 2023, to investigate the collapse of a portion of the under-construction Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi. This incident, which occurred in November last year, resulted in 41 workers being trapped for 17 days.
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