Monday, August 8 2005 16:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Itanagar: Total 13 employees working for the National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) have been trapped inside a tunnel of the Lower Subansiri Hydel Project in Arunachal Pradesh following massive rain-triggered landslides, DIG police Dr Dilip Kumar said in Itanagar today (Aug 8, 2005).

Six platoons of police alongwith equipment and a group of 26 jawans of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) with a medical team have rushed to the site at Kolaptukar on the right bank of river Subansiri, Kumar told sources in Itanagar.

NHPC sources at Gerukamukh in Assam bordering Arunachal Pradesh earlier told sources in Itanagar over phone that 11 employees were trapped since 2330 hrs (IST) after heavy landslides blocked the entry to tunnel of the Second Surge at Kolaptukur.

NHPC sources said a rescue and relief team was immediately deployed last night but heavy rains in the area was hampering work.

The debris was expected to be cleared up and employees rescued by late afternoon today, sources said.

''There was no immediate danger to the employees trapped inside as the tunnel was nearly 42 metres in length and sufficient oxygen was available'', the sources added.

Policemen from Assam side have also been requested to rush to the spot.

Telephone links have been cut-off and efforts are on to contact people on the spot through wireless, the report added.