Rescue teams began the operation to insert a 6-inch diameter pipe inside the tunnel late early on Sunday as the eighth day of the rescue efforts kicked in. Officials on Saturday prepared to drill a vertical hole from the top of the hill to evacuate the workers stuck inside the tunnel for the lasts seven days.
Officials at the site are hoping to resume the mission — on pause since Friday — by Sunday afternoon.
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Meanwhile, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari arrived at the tunnel collapse site to conduct an inspection and look over the rescue works taking place to evacuate the 41 workers trapped there.
Former advisor to the prime minister and now OSD in the Uttarakhand government, Bhaskar Khulbe said that the concerted efforts would produce good results in four-five days. “But if the gods are kind enough, it could happen even earlier than that,” he said.
The number of workers trapped inside was revised from to 41. The NHIDCL, which is constructing the tunnel through Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd, found out about this discrepancy on Friday.
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- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari noted that several machines have been deployed at the site, adding that two auger machines are currently at work to carry out the rescue ops. “If the auger machine works properly, we will be able to reach them (victims) in the next 2-2.5 days…” he was quoted as saying by ANI.
- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that main priority of the state and Centre is to get the workers out as early as possible, adding that he had a two-hour long meeting with the concerned officers at the site. “We are working on 6 alternate options and multiple government agencies are working on the rescue efforts,” Gadkari said.
- Anurag Jain, Secretary, Ministry of Road and Transport, said that there is water and electricity in the tunnel, adding that due to the lack of sunlight — as per doctors’ suggestions — those trapped inside are also being provided with Vitamin B, Vitamin C, and anti-depressants via the 4-inch wall through which they were also sending them food. “These people have been working in the tunnel for a long time, so there is no disappointment among them, and they are looking forward to coming out. It will take some time, but we will eventually get them out,” Jain was quoted as saying by ANI.
- Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, accompanied by Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, arrived at the site of the tunnel collapse to conduct an inspection of the relief and rescue works taking place at the Silkyara tunnel.
- The operation to insert he 6-inch diameter pipe has started as the officials try desperately hard to rescue the 41 workers.
- On Saturday, officials prepared to start drilling a vertical hole right at the top of the tunnel. Major Naman Arora — engaged in the rescue efforts — said that the target is to complete the vertical drilling by Sunday afternoon.
- A team of officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and experts at the site, jointly decided to work on five plans simultaneously to reach the trapped workers, former advisor to the PM, Bhaskar Khulbe said. These five plans include drilling from end to the other of both the Silkyara and Barkot sides, then vertical drilling from the top and perpendicular drilling.
- A vertical track, to assist the drilling from the top — was in the making early on Saturday. Major Naman Arora said that there needs to be around 320 meters of track, so that the drilling can be taken right at the top.
- A performance drilling machine was brought to the site from Indore on Saturday to pierce through the collapsed tunnel’s rubble and was being assembled before it was deployed to resume drilling, officials said.
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THE SILKYARA TUNNEL COLLAPSE The Silkyara tunnel — 30 kms from the district headquarters of Uttarkashi and a seven-hour drive from Dehradun — is part of the Char Dham all-weather road project of the central government.
The tunnel — constructed under the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) — collapsed early on last Sunday, November 12.
WHY WAS THE DRILLING HALTED ON FRIDAY?A US-made auger machine which was brought in to drill through the rubble of the collapse. After being deployed for drilling, the auger machine developed a technical snag, leading to the suspension of the rescue efforts Friday afternoon.
The auger machine had drilled up to 24 metres through the rubble when the the process was put on a pause. Other than this, during the positioning of the fifth pipe, a big cracking sound was heard in the tunnel upon which rescue ops were suspended immediately.
An expert involved with the project had also warned about the possibility of further collapse in the vicinity. Subsequently, the pipe pushing activity was stopped.
HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON SATURDAY The Union government on Saturday held a high-level meeting to discuss the five options of rescuing the workers trapped inside.
NHIDCL MD Mahmood Ahmed has been made in-charge of coordinating with all the central agencies.
In this battle against time, officials are waging options to rescue the workers.
RS Rao of Directorate General Border Roads said that one option is to make a four-six inch long hole which will help in providing those trapped with essentials. “If the conditions are favourable, a three-feet diameter hole will also be made so people will be able to come out. This road is about 900 metres long. Hopefully, the road will be ready by tomorrow morning,” Rao said.
After the rescue efforts being halted for almost 3 days, OSD in Uttarakhand government, Bhaskar Khulbe said that we need to look ahead, adding that this is not the appropriate time to discuss what happened in the past.
The ONGC, RVNL, Satluj Jal Vikas Nigam Ltd, the BRO and the state PWD besides the NHIDCL will be the agencies carrying out different responsibilities to establish early access to the trapped workers, Khulbe noted.
Earlier CM Dhami had a meeting with the officials at his residence. He said that “under the guidance of the PMO, the state government is busy making all efforts to evacuate labourers trapped inside the tunnel. We hope we will soon succeed in the mission.”
(With PTI inputs)
