The concerted efforts to rescue 41 trapped workers inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand are progressing, with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami providing an optimistic update on Monday. CM Dhami conveyed that the auger machine, which had become lodged in debris, has been successfully removed, marking a crucial milestone in the ongoing rescue operation.
Chief Minister Dhami stated, “Everyone has been trying. The auger machine has been taken out completely… Drilling and pushing work will start, and we hope that the work is completed at the earliest.” He further revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been actively seeking daily updates on the rescue operation, demonstrating the high-level attention given to the situation.
The incident, which occurred on November 12 when a portion of the tunnel collapsed, trapped 41 laborers beneath debris in a 60-meter stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel. The subsequent rescue operation faced challenges when the auger machine used for horizontal drilling broke down, necessitating the adoption of vertical drilling techniques.
The plasma cutter, flown in from Hyderabad, played a crucial role in cutting the auger machine and resuming the rescue operations. A damaged portion of the pipeline, laid through horizontal drilling, is now being manually removed by rat miners.
The Indian Army’s Madras Sappers Unit from the Corps of Engineers has been enlisted to aid in the rescue operation. The vertical drilling from the hilltop is reportedly making swift progress, with 31 meters of the required 86 meters completed. The ongoing drilling work aims to lay an 800/900 mm or 1.2 m diameter pipeline to facilitate the rescue.
Mahmood Ahmad, Managing Director of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), provided a timeline for the completion of drilling work, stating, “We have to drill around 86 meters to be done within four days, that is, by November 30. Hopefully, there will be no further hurdles, and the work will be completed on time.”
Addressing concerns about the lack of an escape passage, Ahmad mentioned the formation of a committee to investigate the matter, emphasizing that the immediate goal is the safe evacuation of the trapped workers.
The rescue operation involves thirty personnel from the engineer regiment, including both Indian Army and civilian collaborators, engaging in manual drilling techniques. The delicate process includes digging out debris using tools like hands, hammers, and chisels, with the pipe pushed forward from a platform built inside the tunnel.
As the nation anxiously watches the developments, the collaborative efforts of various agencies and the unwavering commitment to rescue operations remain at the forefront of this challenging mission.
