Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: Laser, gas cutter, broken parts of drill machine in Uttarakhand | See pics
Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: Rescue efforts are underway in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, where 41 workers have been trapped for the past 15 days in the Silkyara Tunnel. The rescue operations, initiated on November 12, were prompted by a collapse in a section of the under-construction tunnel on the Char Dham route due to a landslide. Both national and international experts are collaborating to facilitate the rescue mission.
The current focus of the operation involves retrieving parts of the auger machine that became lodged during horizontal drilling within the tunnel. A team from the Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), equipped with a plasma cutter, was flown in from Hyderabad to cut and remove the auger machine parts. However, operational challenges at the site necessitated a switch to gas cutters after the plasma cutter faced difficulties.
Auger drilling, which began on Wednesday, encountered a metallic object (lattice girder rib) in front of the pipe, leading to a pause in the operation. As officials explore alternative options, vertical drilling has commenced, marking the second-best choice. Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), revealed that about 15 meters of vertical drilling has been completed, and after 86 meters, the tunnel's crust will need to be broken to extract the trapped workers.
Six different plans are being executed for the rescue, with horizontal drilling identified as the most effective so far. Approximately 47 meters of drilling has been completed using this method. The area where the workers are trapped spans 8.5 meters in height and 2 kilometers in length, constituting the built-up portion of the tunnel.
Despite the challenging circumstances, the trapped workers are reported to be safe, receiving cooked food and fresh fruits through a pipe at regular intervals. To facilitate communication, a modified communication system with wire connectivity, developed by the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), is being employed to stay in contact with the workers. The ongoing efforts involve a combination of technical expertise and strategic planning to ensure the safe and timely rescue of the trapped individuals.
- With inputs from agencies
