Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue
In a significant breakthrough, the first images of workers trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, surfaced on Tuesday morning. This development followed a crucial effort by rescuers, who successfully pushed a six-inch-wide pipeline through the rubble of the collapsed tunnel. This breakthrough enables the supply of larger quantities of food to the 41 workers who have been trapped inside for nine days.
The footage, captured using an endoscopic camera sent through the alternative food pipeline, reveals workers in yellow and white helmets receiving essential items sent to them through the pipeline. This marks a notable advancement, considering that a four-inch existing tube had been previously utilized to supply oxygen, dry fruits, and medicines to the workers in the section of the tunnel beyond the collapsed portion.
Anshu Manish Khalkho, the director of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), hailed this as the “first breakthrough” at the site. The six-inch pipeline, extended 53 meters to the other side of the rubble, has allowed communication with the trapped workers.
While describing it as a significant achievement, Col. Deepak Patil, a colleague of Khalkho, emphasized the importance of the next step: safely extracting the workers. The focus now shifts to the vital task of rescuing the trapped individuals.
First visuals of workers stuck inside collapsed Uttarkashi tunnel surface https://t.co/XXXXXX
— PTI (@PTI_News) February 7, 2023
A notable relief for the stranded workers came through the six-inch alternative lifeline, facilitating the delivery of hot Khichdi for the first time since their entrapment. The collapse occurred on November 12 in the under-construction tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot, trapping 41 laborers in a 2 km-built tunnel portion. This portion, complete with concrete work, provides a secure environment for the workers.
The trapped workers are receiving electricity and water, with food items and medicines supplied through a 4-inch compressor pipeline. A carefully curated list of food options, including bananas, apples, Khichdi, and Daliya, is being sent to meet the nutritional needs of the trapped laborers.
Additionally, drones and robots from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have been deployed to explore potential escape routes for the trapped workers. Although rescue workers faced a temporary obstacle with a boulder blocking the progress of the heavy-duty auger machine, plans to resume horizontal boring through the debris were scheduled for the evening.
Furthermore, efforts are underway to construct a vertical rescue shaft around 80 meters deep, with the first machine for this purpose reaching the tunnel. The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) is coordinating the provision of additional equipment, and work has commenced on drilling from the Barkot end of the tunnel.
International tunneling expert Arnold Dix has also joined the efforts, arriving at the disaster site to assess the rescue operations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally called Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the morale of the trapped workers during the ongoing rescue operation.
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