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Uttarkashi: The ongoing rescue mission in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel, on its 15th day, faced a setback as the US-made auger machine encountered its fourth obstacle, causing a major snag. The Indian Army has now came to force in the rescue operations to evacuate 41 trapped labourers inside the Uttarakhand tunnel which encountered another trouble after the American auger machine, critical for horizontal drilling, broke down.
The huge and complex rescue operation witness the collaboration of multiple agencies, including the Indian Air Force. The Air Force has played a vital role in facilitating the ongoing rescue operations with the transportation of critical DRDO equipment to Dehradun. To expedite the rescue process, two drilling sites were established on the Silkyara side of the high-altitude tunnel currently under construction.
CM Dhami revealed that a plasma cutters that arrived from Hyderabad were being used to manually dismantle the damaged blades of the American-made auger drilling machine. Top laser cutter is also being used along with American Auger’s plasma cutter. If the American Auger machine is taken out by these cutters by evening, then the tunnel work can be completed in 12-14 hours. Authorities have also begun vertical drilling on the hilltop above the Silkyara tunnel to create an alternate route for the trapped men to be rescued.
International tunneling expert Arnold Dix, who is advising on the rescue, confirmed that there was no prior suggestion of a possible collapse in the affected area, stressing the need for detailed investigation of the sudden rock grade change. Dix also noted that the use of a plasma cutter is speeding up the removal of a stuck auger machine.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) member Lieutenant General (retired) Syed Ata Hasnain told journalists in New Delhi that this rescue operation may take a long time. Under ‘manual drilling’, the workers will enter the 47-meter portion of the rescue route dug so far and will do ‘drilling’ for a short period at a limited place and after coming out, someone else will start doing this work.
According to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, this (work) can start as soon as the equipment stuck in the designated evacuation route is brought out. Heavy equipment for horizontal ‘drilling’ was taken to a 1.5 kilometer hill road on Saturday. This route has been prepared by the Border Roads Organization in a few days. This process may start in the ‘next 24 to 36 hours’. He indicated that of the two main options now being considered, this is the quickest option.
So far, a horizontal path of 46.9 meters has been made in the debris. The length of the collapsed part of the tunnel is about 60 meters. About 20 parts of the blade have been cut off and a plasma cutter is being airlifted from Hyderabad to complete the remaining work. He said that when this happens ‘manual drilling’ will start.
This incident of disruption of work due to auger machine has increased the concern of the families of the trapped workers. Family members staying near the disaster site often talk to the workers through the communication system set up by rescue workers. Food, medicines and other essential items are being sent to the workers through six-inch wide pipes.
A communication system has been established using pipes and relatives of the workers have spoken to them. An endoscopic camera has also been inserted into the tunnel through this pipe, through which rescue workers are able to see the situation inside.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking daily updates about the rescue operation launched in the state to safely rescue 41 workers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel.
A part of the tunnel being built on the Chardham Yatra route had collapsed on November 12, due to which 41 workers working in it were trapped. Since then, various agencies are carrying out rescue operations on a war footing to get them out. The entire country is praying for the safe return of these workers.
