In the ongoing effort to free 40 workers trapped inside the Silkyara Tunnel, rescue crews in Uttarkashi made great progress overnight. The second and third pipes, each with a diameter of 900 mm and a length of 6 metres, have now been entirely inserted into the wreckage.
As of Friday morning at six in the morning, the sophisticated auger drilling equipment had penetrated 21 metres of the tunnel’s accumulated debris, according to the Silkyara Control Room of the Emergency Operation Centre. The operation became more challenging when the drilling process was temporarily stopped due to the presence of a hard substance within the debris.
The 24 tonne high-performance auger drilling machine was brought in to expedite rescue operations following the collapse of the under-construction tunnel due to a landslip. To reach the trapped workers, officials anticipate that digging will need to go another 45 to 60 metres. With a remarkable penetration rate of 5 metres per hour, the machine outperforms the previous model in terms of capacity.
As the sixth day of the rescue operations approaches, constant communication has been maintained to check and reassure the trapped workers’ mental health. Through pipelines, the stranded labourers have been getting food, water, and oxygen. They are also communicating with rescuers using walkie-talkies. Beside the tunnel, a medical centre has been set up, and neighbouring hospitals are prepared.
The introduction of the sophisticated drilling equipment came after a series of unfortunate events, such as a land slide and the breakdown of an earlier drill machine. The new drilling machine was airlifted to the location by the Indian Air Force, which was instrumental in the operation.
To efficiently handle the delicate alpine terrain, experts from Norway and Thailand, who are renowned for their experience in comparable rescue situations, have been engaged.
Union Minister VK Singh, who visited the location, expressed hope for the rescue efforts and said that, ‘freeing all of the stranded people is the first priority. We’re investigating every possibility. The security of employees comes first. We are seeking input from global organisations,’ he declared.
India Today TV was informed by Professor Arnold Dix, President of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, that the group was closely monitoring the rescue attempts and was prepared to provide any support that could be needed.
‘If the rescue is not affected within the next hours, I will be deploying to India to offer all assistance on behalf of all our member nations. India is one of the world’s leading tunneling nations. We are offering every assistance to India. This is an extremely serious matter, 40 lives are in great peril,’ he said.
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