of Uttarakhand Uttarkashi You may get some good news by late night or Thursday morning. It is being told that 41 laborers trapped in the tunnel can be rescued soon. It is known that the rescue operation has gained momentum after the resumption of drilling with the American auger machine to prepare a way to rescue 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara Tunnel for more than 10 days. Officials said that drilling has been started again after midnight on Tuesday with the American auger machine and till now drilling has been done up to 45 meters inside the debris.
For this reason drilling work was stopped on Friday
Drilling was stopped after the auger machine hit a hard surface on Friday afternoon. By the time the drilling was stopped, the debris had been penetrated to a depth of 22 meters and four six meter long 900 mm diameter pipes had been inserted inside it. A two meter section of the last pipe was left out to connect the next pipe.
Pipes of 800 mm diameter are being inserted inside the debris.
Officials said that now pipes of 800 mm diameter are being inserted inside the debris instead of 900 mm. Former advisor to the Prime Minister and Uttarakhand Government Officer on Special Duty Bhaskar Khulbe said that since the resumption of drilling with the auger machine, a total of 45 meters of drilling has been completed so far.
40 to 50 meter part is very important
Earlier, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) Managing Director Mahmood Ahmed said that the ’40 to 50′ meter section is ‘very important’ during drilling in the tunnel. He said, after we overcome this, we can say with more confidence. When asked how much more time will it take to complete the campaign, he said, if we do not face any hurdle and we continue at this pace, we may get some good news by late Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
There is 53 meters of debris inside the tunnel which has to be penetrated.
Rescue efforts have gained momentum as drilling has resumed. It is being told that there is 53 meters of debris inside the tunnel which has to be penetrated. Ahmed said that under the alternative plan, vertical drilling has also been started from the Barkot end of the tunnel. He said, three blastings have been done and we have entered about eight meters inside from there also.
Chief Minister Dhami is continuously monitoring the relief and rescue work.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is keeping an eye on the relief and rescue work being carried out to rescue the workers trapped in the tunnel. At night, the Chief Minister will take stock of the ongoing relief and rescue work in Silkyara Tunnel located on Uttarkashi-Yamunotri road. CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said, the machine is working today. I hope that all the workers will come out safely.
How did the accident happen?
A part of the Silkyara tunnel under construction on the Chardham Yatra route in Uttarkashi district had collapsed on November 12, due to which workers were trapped on the other side of the debris, rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing to rescue them. On Monday, rescue workers were successful in inserting a 53 meter long six-inch pipeline through the debris, through which more food items are being delivered to the workers. The first pictures and video of the workers being safe were received early on Tuesday by sending an ‘endoscopic flexi’ camera through this pipeline.
PM Modi talked to CM Dhami
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami over phone and took information about the ongoing rescue operations in Silkyara. Dhami said that he informed the Prime Minister about the rescue operations and also informed him about the positive progress made in the last 24 hours and the morale boosted by the talks between the workers and their families.