A worker died in a tragic accident early Thursday morning inside the under-construction Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district. According to preliminary information, a section of the shotcrete lining inside the tunnel suddenly collapsed around 2:00 AM. The 21-year-old worker was struck by the debris and died on the spot. He was reportedly a resident of Jharkhand.
Accident in Silkyara Tunnel, Worker Dies
Reports indicate the accident occurred approximately 900 meters inside the tunnel from the Barkot side. Routine construction work was underway at the time. A large block of the lining suddenly broke off and fell, causing panic among the workers present. Fellow workers immediately initiated rescue efforts and attempted to retrieve the injured worker, but he had already succumbed to his injuries.
Statement from Barkot Police
Upon receiving news of the incident, local police and teams from relevant departments arrived at the scene. The police took the body into custody and sent it to the mortuary for a post-mortem examination, following necessary legal procedures. Officials associated with the tunnel construction also inspected the site and reviewed safety measures after the accident.
सिल्क्यारा टनल में हादसा, शॉटक्रीट लाइनिंग का ब्लॉक गिरने से गई कार्मिक की जान; डीएम ने लिया तत्काल संज्ञान। pic.twitter.com/2Bln0KNlgV
— DIPR_Uttarkashi (@UttarkashiDipr) July 16, 2026
NHIDCL Investigating the Cause
Meanwhile, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has launched a detailed investigation into the accident. Departmental officials state that a factual report is being prepared to ascertain the cause of the incident. Only after the investigation is complete will it become clear under what circumstances the accident occurred and whether technical or other factors were responsible.
Previous Accident at Silkyara Tunnel in 2023
It is worth noting that the Silkyara Tunnel has previously garnered national and international attention. A major landslide occurred at the tunnel site in Uttarkashi on November 12, 2023. A section of the tunnel—being constructed as part of the Char Dham All-Weather Road Project—had collapsed at that time. As a result, 41 workers were trapped inside. The trapped workers were successfully rescued after 17 days through one of India’s most complex and historic rescue operations.
