Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue HIGHLIGHTS: Drilling & Augering Comes To Halt, Other Options Being Considered

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Ops HIGHLIGHTS: Follow this space for all latest updates on rescue operation of 41 workers trapped inside Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi.

Background

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Ops HIGHLIGHTS: The rescue operations to safely evacuate the 41 workers trapped after a part of an under-construction tunnel collapsed in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi entered the 12th day on Thursday.On Thursday evening, International expert Arnold Dix said the auger machine drilling through the rubble of the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand is experiencing “some difficulties” again. The remark came just hours after drilling to rescue 41 trapped workers resumed after a six-hour delay caused by an iron girdle encountered by the American machine on Wednesday night.Drilling had previously been halted from Friday afternoon to Tuesday night due to a mechanical issue. "Right now the auger machine is experiencing some difficulties, for the third time," Dix told the Press Trust of India. "We've seen this before," he recalled, as per PTI report. He did not elaborate on the nature of the "difficulties" this time, and it was not immediately clear whether this would cause a significant delay in the rescue operation, which is now in its 12th day.However, he remained optimistic about the rescue effort's success. He stated that the work was being done cautiously, as it should be.Workers trapped for 12 days in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel are expected to be rescued within the next few hours or by tomorrow, according to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) member Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain on Thursday evening.The drilling operation to extract 41 trapped workers ran into difficulties, forcing a temporary halt to rescue efforts.To rescue the workers, the government has implemented a five-pronged action plan, with five agencies – Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Sutluj Jal Vidyut Nigam, Rail Vikas Nigam, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation, and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation – assigned specific responsibilities, working collaboratively with occasional task adjustments for operational efficiency.The THDC has begun building a rescue tunnel from the Barkot end, with four blasts already completed, resulting in a 9.10-metre drift. Attempts are being made to conduct three blasts per day.

25/11/2023 18:59:34

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Live: CPI MP Binoy Viswam Urges PM Modi For Eco-Conscious Development, Worker Safety

CPI Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam has penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drawing attention to the collapse of the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel, which has left 41 workers trapped.

25/11/2023 17:57:27

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Live: Landline Connection Initiated For Trapped Workers

In the ongoing rescue efforts at the Uttarkashi tunnel in Uttarakhand, a glimmer of connectivity emerges as Kundan, an employee of BSNL, shares that, "On the instructions of the government, a landline facility is being made available here."

25/11/2023 17:17:02

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Live: CM Dhami Urges Swift Action In Silkyara Tunnel Rescue Operation

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami personally assessed the ongoing Silkyara Tunnel Rescue Operation in Uttarkashi, seeking updates from officials on relief efforts. Focusing on the critical issue of the auger machine stuck in the pipe, Chief Minister Dhami emphasized the urgency of its prompt removal.

25/11/2023 16:24:40

Race Against Time: Rescue Operation Underway In Silkyara Tunnel As Workers Remain Trapped

In a critical rescue operation unfolding in the Silkyara tunnel, 41 workers find themselves trapped, but the latest update from Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), a member of the National Disaster Management Authority, brings a glimmer of hope. Lt General Hasnain assures that the trapped workers are stable, receiving essential supplies, and in communication with their relatives.

25/11/2023 13:44:26

CM Dhami Leaves From Silkyara Tunnel Site After Taking Stock Of Rescue Ops

Uttarkashi: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami leaves from Silkyara tunnel site after taking stock of the rescue operation that is underway here to rescue 41 trapped workers.

25/11/2023 13:16:37

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Arrives In Uttarkashi To Take Stock Of Rescue Ops

Uttarakhand CM PS Dhami arrives in Uttarkashi, to take stock of the rescue operation underway at the Silkyara tunnel

25/11/2023 12:46:56

Everyone Is Well, No More Work From Auger: Arnold Dix

"No one has been hurt, everyone is well. At the moment everything is fine. You will not see the augering anymore, auger (machine) is finished, is broken. It is irrepairable, no more work from auger," says micro tunneling expert Arnold Dix. 

25/11/2023 12:43:48

Drilling & Augering Comes To Halt, Other Options Being Considered: Arnold Dix

"The drilling, augering has stopped. It's too much for the auger (machine), it is not going to do anything more. We are looking at multiple options, but with each option we are considering how do we make sure that 41 men come home safe and we don't hurt anyone. The mountain has again resisted the auger, so we are rethinking our approach. I am confident that the 41 men are coming home by Christmas," says micro tunneling expert Arnold Dix

25/11/2023 11:46:02

Damaged Blades Of Auger Machine Taken Out From Tunnel

The damaged blades of the auger machine were taken out from the tunnel as the rescue operations entered its 14th day.

25/11/2023 11:38:21

SJVN & ONGC Teams Reach Hill Above Silkyara Tunnel, Vertical Drilling To Start After Drilling Machine Arrives

SJVN and ONGC teams have reached the hill above the Silkyara tunnel. Vertical drilling work will start as soon as the drilling machine arrives.

25/11/2023 08:40:50

Visuals From Outside Silkyara Tunnel Surfaces As The Rescue Operation Continues

PTI shared the visuals from outside of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand as the operation to evacuate 41 trapped workers continued.

25/11/2023 08:08:09

Manual Drilling For Last 9M To Start Soon, Says Official

A senior official part of the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operations said that the manual drilling work could start in the last 6-9 metres as soon as the auger drilling machine is brought out of the tunnel pipeline. The official added that the new drilling process today might bring good results.

24/11/2023 21:27:47

Drilling Stopped Again At Uttarkashi Tunnel

Drilling at the collapsed Silkyara tunnel to rescue 41 men who had been trapped underground for 12 days was suspended again on Friday, according to authorities, PTI reported.

24/11/2023 16:16:29

No Progress In Movement Of Pipe Through Debris In Silkyara tunnel Since Thursday: NDMA

24/11/2023 16:03:26

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Visits Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse Site

24/11/2023 15:09:26

'Ops In Last Stage': CM Dhami Says Workers Will Come Out Soon

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, "The rescue operation is in its last step. PM Modi takes all the updates about the difficulties that workers might face and discusses the solutions... All the agencies of both the central and state governments are working together for the rescue operation. We hope that soon this operation will be completed and all the workers will come out."

24/11/2023 15:07:45

Ex-PMO Advisor Says Workers Likely To Be Out By Evening

Former advisor to PMO, Bhaskar Khulbe says, "Drilling will start after 45 minutes. There are no issues, it takes time to collect all the equipment... All the metal has been taken out... We are trying to rescue them (workers) by the evening."

24/11/2023 12:39:58

PM Modi Speaks To CM Dhami Over Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Op

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on the phone today. Information was taken about the rescue operation...The PM also inquired about the condition of the workers trapped inside the tunnel and the food and daily routine items provided to them. Information was also taken about the condition and safety of the personnel engaged in relief and rescue work...: Uttarakhand DIPR

24/11/2023 11:02:17

NDRF Shows Movement Of Wheeled Stretchers Through Pipleline For Rescue

NDRF demonstrates the movement of wheeled stretchers through the pipeline, for the rescue of 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara Tunnel once the horizontal pipe reaches the other side.

24/11/2023 10:36:27

'All Facilities There, They Are Fine': Brother Of A Trapped Labourer

The brother of a trapped worker, Haridwar Sharma says, "My younger brother, Sushil Sharma, is inside. I had a conversation with him this morning around 8 am... Everyone is fine inside, and there are facilities. I asked him if he was facing any difficulties, and he said that there were no difficulties. They are all just hoping to come out soon. Everything is available there... There is a facility for bathing too... I said that you would surely get out..."

24/11/2023 10:24:55

Uttarkashi Rescue Live: Augur Machine Reassembling Soon As Authorites Release Plan

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue: Platform for Auger Machine is strengthened using accelerating agent for rapid hardening of concrete. Welder’s team has gone inside the pipe for cutting of bent pipe. Cutting of bent pipe is ongoing. Auger reassembly will start shortly thereafter.

24/11/2023 09:13:02

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue: Union Minister VK Singh Reaches Site Where Rescue Ops Are Underway

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: Union Minister General VK Singh (Retd) reaches the Silkyara tunnel site where the rescue operation is underway to bring out the trapped workers.

24/11/2023 08:54:36

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Live: Trapped Workers Likely To Be Out By Evening

Former advisor to PMO, Bhaskar Khulbe says, "We hope that we will be able to rescue them (workers) by today evening."

24/11/2023 08:55:25

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Live: Drill Fixed, Officials Gear Up To Resume Ops

Former advisor to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Bhaskar Khulbe has said: "We have been able to fix the auger machine strongly on its foundation. There were some obstacles on the mouth of the pipe, which we had to clear after cutting it. This is difficult work, hence it is taking time."

 

He says: "The situation is much better now. Last night, we had to work on two things. First, we had to revamp the platform of the machine... Parsons Company had done the ground penetration radar, through which we got to know that for the next 5 meters, there is no metallic obstruction. This means that our drilling should be smooth. When we were taking out the debris, we got two mangled pipes..."

24/11/2023 08:40:28

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Live: Special Prayers Offered At Ujjain's Mahakaal Temple For Safety Of Workers

Priests at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain have offered special prayers for the safety of 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand.

 

24/11/2023 08:34:55

Expert Explains About Drone Tech To Be Used In Tunnel Rescue Op

On the drone technology that is being used in the rescue operation, Cyriac Joseph, MD & CEO, Squadrone Infra Mining Pvt Ltd says, "This (drone) is one of the latest technologies which can go inside the tunnel, it goes into GPS denied areas and we can access if there is any convergence..."

24/11/2023 07:53:32

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: Ops To Resume Today After Brief Pause, Drone Tech To Be Used

Drilling work was halted on Thursday after a technical snag in the Auger drilling machine. Till now, rescuers have drilled up to 46.8 meters in the Silkyara tunnel and the operations are set to resume today.