'At The Front Door, Knocking On It': Expert Hopeful As Uttarakhand Rescue Ops Enter Final Stage

The Uttarakhand CMO said that the rescue operations were in final stage and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is also present in Uttarkashi.

The rescue operation at the Silkyara tunnel site in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi has entered its final stage as the relatives of the trapped workers and the entire nation await the safe evacuation of the labourers. An expert on Thursday suggested that the rescuers have reached very close to the labourers. 

"At the moment, it's like we are there at the front door and we are knocking on it,” international tunnelling expert Arnold Dix told ANI. 

“We know that the guys are there on the other side. I am going to have a look and see what is happening,” said the tunnelling expert who reached the rescue site on Thursday. 

41 workers were trapped on November 12 after a portion of an under-construction tunnel collapsed in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi after which a rescue operation was undertaken to safely take out the labourers. 

The Uttarakhand Chief Minister’s Office on Thursday said that the rescue operation was in the final stage and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was also present in Uttarkashi. 

A green corridor has been prepared through which the workers will be taken to the hospital as part of the post-rescue action plan. 

"...Our post-rescue action plan is ready. We will take the workers through the green corridor with a police escort and make sure that the best possible treatment is being provided to them,” Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi told ANI. 

“I think they will be taken to Chinyalisaur and then if necessary to Rishikesh. Some VIP movements are going to take place. Union Minister General VK Singh (Retd) and Secretary, North will also be coming,” he added. 

Ambulances have been kept on standby at the tunnel site and beds have been prepared at Chinyalisaur medical facility for the treatment of the workers once they are taken out safely.

Iron Mesh Hurdle Removed

An iron mesh had earlier obstructed auger machine drilling through the rubble at the tunnel, which has now been removed, said Former advisor to the prime minister's office Bhaskar Khulbe. 

"The problem which was created due to the iron mesh has been solved. The mesh has been cut by the use of the iron cutters," Khulbe said.

"It will take 12 to 14 hours more to complete the drilling and reach the workers. After that, it will take three more hours to take the workers out one by one and that will be done with the help of the NDRF," he added.