In a significant development, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the completion of pipe laying inside the Silkyara tunnel, marking a crucial milestone in the ongoing efforts to rescue 41 trapped workers. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude for the collective prayers and tireless efforts of rescue teams, anticipating the imminent evacuation of all labourers.
Nodal Officer and Secretary to the Uttarakhand government, Neeraj Khairwal, echoed optimism during a press briefing, stating that in the absence of further hurdles, a prompt evacuation is anticipated. At the tunnel entrance, a deployment of ambulances, NDRF personnel, SDRF, and various agencies is in place. The NDRF team is poised to enter the tunnel and facilitate the safe extraction of trapped labourers individually, according to official sources.
Micro tunneling expert Chris Cooper provided insights into the ongoing operations, highlighting the cessation of vertical drilling in favor of accelerating manual drilling. Cooper expressed enthusiasm, stating the team expects tangible results by evening, around 5 pm.
“We are still mining. Everybody is very excited and energetic. Let us see what happens. We have stopped vertical drilling, and the focus is on manual drilling,” mentioned Chris Cooper. “We have got a couple of more meters to go. We are expecting to see some results by 5 pm. 2-3 meters are left,” he added.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami through a call, assessing the ongoing rescue and relief efforts. The Prime Minister inquired about the well-being of the trapped workers and emphasized ensuring their safety, along with those engaged in the rescue operations.
As the rescue operation progresses, the relatives of the trapped labourers have been instructed to prepare, keeping the clothes and bags of the workers ready. Upon successful rescue, the workers are expected to be transported to Chinyalisaur Hospital, as per official sources.
