Uttarkashi : Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways VK Singh on Thursday took stock of the rescue operation being carried out to safely rescue the workers trapped at the site of the Uttarkashi tunnel accident. During this, he said that it took about three days to rescue the workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel of Uttarkashi. He said that to save the workers trapped in this tunnel, all the agencies are trying to complete the rescue operation within two to three days.
Talked to the workers trapped in the tunnel
Union Minister VK Singh further said that the government is talking to the agencies and experts involved in the rescue operation. Everyone’s only objective is to get the workers out safely as soon as possible. He said that I have talked to the workers trapped in the tunnel. Their morale is high. They are aware that all efforts are being made to evacuate those people. We are considering all options to save them under any circumstances. Let us tell you that the tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway collapsed on the morning of 12 November.
New machine brought for drilling
According to the report of news agency ANI, Union Minister VK Singh said that it is our priority to save the workers trapped in the tunnel as soon as possible. He said that a new machine is working for drilling, whose power and speed is much better than the earlier machine. Our effort is to complete this rescue operation as soon as possible.
Drilling work resumes in Silkyara Tunnel
On the other hand, there is also news that more capacity has been created to prepare an ‘escape tunnel’ from large diameter steel pipes to rescue 40 workers trapped inside it for the last four days due to the collapse of a part of the under construction Silkyara Tunnel on the Yamunotri National Highway. Drilling has been started again with the American auger machine and the work of removing the debris has been started. Officials said that drilling machines have almost been installed inside the tunnel and drilling will be resumed soon.
Food items to be given to workers every half hour
The work of installing the new drilling machine in the Silkyara Tunnel was started at 12 o’clock on Wednesday night and about 95 percent of this work has been completed. The work of removing debris has started at around 1.30 pm on Thursday afternoon. Officials say that all the workers trapped in the tunnel will soon be taken out safely. He said that all the workers are healthy and they are being provided food items every half hour. Earlier on Tuesday late night, the tunnel work had to be stopped midway due to fresh landslides and falling of soil during drilling in the debris. Later the auger machine also broke down.