Villagers in Uttarkashi believe that the collapse of the Silkyara-Polgaon tunnel, trapping 40 workers, is due to the razing of a temple dedicated to the local deity Baukhnaag Devta. They believe that unless the deity is pacified, rescue efforts will not be successful. The construction company ignored the villagers’ warnings and removed the temple, resulting in the mishap. Locals recall a similar incident in 2013 when the temple of Dhari Devi was submerged during the construction of a hydroelectric power plant, leading to a tragedy.