INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
UTTARKASHI: A few days before Diwali, the day when 40 workers were trapped inside the Silkyara-Polgaon tunnel, a temple devoted to a local
deity Baukhnaag Devta, considered the region's guardian, was razed for tunnel work
Villagers now say "the wrath of the deity is the reason for the tunnel collapse"
Willagers believe "unless the deity is pacified, rescue efforts will not yield any results".Dhanveer Chand Ramola, a 40-year-old resident of
Silkyara, said, "Before the project was initiated, a small temple was built near the tunnel entrance.Respecting local beliefs, former
officials and workers used to offer prayers there before starting the day's work
A few days ago, the new management removed the temple, resulting in this mishap."Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: Could take up to 24 hours more
to rescue trapped workers, say officialsAnother villager, Rakesh Nautiyal (45), said, "We asked the construction company officials not to
damage the temple or build another one in nearby before doing so
They ignored our warnings, thinking we're superstitious
Parts of the tunnel had collapsed earlier but not a single worker had been harmed as religious practices were being followed."Ganesh Prasad
Bijalwan (55), a priest of Baukhnaag Devta, said, "Uttarakhand is known as Devbhoomi, or land of gods
It's a tradition to set up a small temple of a local deity before constructing any bridge, road or tunnel to seek blessings of that
particular god or goddess
The construction company made a grave mistake by ignoring traditions
Another temple needs to be built
Once the deity is pleased, the operation to evacuate labourers will succeed."Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: Plan to drill hole through debris
hits roadblock as augur machine breaks down, IAF called inLocals had made similar claims when the temple of Dhari Devi, believed to be the
protector of Char Dham shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, had submerged during the construction of the Alaknanda Hydro
Electric Power Plant in June 2013
Subsequently, the idol was moved to a nearby makeshift temple on June 16, 2013, and later that day, the Kedarnath deluge happened, killed
The tragedy was attributed to the "wrath of the goddess for having been disturbed from her original place"
The issue was also raised in the Parliament by leaders like Sushma Swaraj in September 2013
She demanded immediate reinstatement of the idol and criticised the then-government's move to build dams on the Ganga
The statue was reinstated at its original place in the middle of Alaknanda river near Rudraprayag in Pauri Garhwal early this year after
seven days of continuous prayers.Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: Contact established with trapped workers, all are safe, say rescuers
