As the Silkyara tunnel rescue operation enters its 17th day, significant progress has been made with manual drilling efforts to reach the trapped workers. Micro tunnelling expert Chris Cooper reported that approximately 50 meters of drilling work has been completed, with 3 meters achieved through manual drilling on Tuesday morning.
The rescue team faced challenges earlier when the auger machine got stuck in debris, leading to a pause in drilling operations. The debris was subsequently cut and removed using a plasma cutter. Rat-hole miners are now diligently carrying out the manual drilling, making progress since Monday night.
According to official sources, a total of about 57 meters of drilling from the mouth of the tunnel is planned to lay a pipe inside and reach the trapped workers. Chris Cooper expressed optimism, stating, “It went very well last night. We have crossed 50 meters. It’s now about 5-6 meters to go. We didn’t have any obstacles last night. It is looking very positive.”
Meanwhile, NHIDCL Managing Director Mahmood Ahmad informed that vertical drilling of 36 meters has been completed from atop the hill. Neeraj Khairwal, Secretary of the Uttarakhand Government, cautioned against assuming specific timelines for the drilling operations but expressed hope for a swift and obstacle-free process.
On Monday, a part of the auger stuck inside the tunnel was successfully removed, and officials emphasized that the 41 workers trapped inside are stable and safe. Lt General (Rtd) Syed Ata Hasnain from the National Disaster Management Authority assured that the situation inside the tunnel is under control, with provisions for food, medicine, and psychological support.
A delegation led by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Pramod Kumar Mishra, inspected the ongoing efforts on Monday. Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Uttarakhand Chief Secretary SS Sandhu joined the assessment inside the tunnel.
As the rescue operation continues, the collective efforts aim to ensure the safe and swift extraction of the trapped workers from the Silkyara tunnel.
