Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam has criticized the Congress party for its post against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse. Gautam called the post ‘unfortunate,’ stating that, “At a time when the whole country is praying for the lives of those 41 trapped labourers, despite being responsible, Congress is engaged in banter or insulting others. It is very unfortunate.”
The Congress party’s official handle posted an animated picture earlier today, depicting PM Modi showing a green flag in front of the Silkyara tunnel, with a caption that read, “Install some cameras and then get darshan of Saheb.”
Meanwhile, ongoing multi-pronged rescue efforts at the Silkyara Tunnel collapse site have raised hopes of an early evacuation. Relatives of the 41 trapped labourers have been asked to be prepared, keeping the clothes and bags of the workers ready, as per official sources. The workers are expected to be taken to Chinyalisaur Hospital after being rescued.
The rescue efforts involve both vertical and manual drilling, progressing at an almost similar pace. Vertical drilling, which was paused last night, has resumed, with about 43 meters of drilling work done so far out of the 86 meters needed. The remaining work is estimated to take another 40 to 50 hours.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, overseeing the rescue operation, stated that almost 52 meters of drilling work has been completed. Expressing confidence, he said, “The manner in which the work is ongoing, we hope that there will be a breakthrough very soon.”
Rat-hole miners involved in manual drilling inside the Silkyara tunnel have asserted confidence, stating that the drilling work will be completed in 24 hours, bringing the trapped labourers out soon. The debris generated from the manual drilling is being taken out manually using ropes from the rescue pipe.
The ongoing rescue operations have entered the 17th day, and various drilling methods are being employed to reach the trapped workers inside the under-construction tunnel.
