Uttarakhand Ops HIGHLIGHTS: CM Says Work Of Inserting Pipe Complete, Workers To Be Rescued Soon
Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Ops HIGHLIGHTS: Follow this space for all the latest updates on the rescue operation of 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi.
After 16 days, rescue workers drilled through the 60-metre stretch of rubble of inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi in which 41 workers have been trapped. They are now being brought out. Follow The Latest Updates Here
Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue: Union Minister General VK Singh (Retd), former advisor of PMO Bhaskar Khulbe and former Engineer-In-Chief and BRO DG Lieutenant General Harpal Singh (Retd) come out of the Silkyara tunnel.
Uttarkarshi Tunnel Collapse: Arun Mishra, coordinator of UP government for rescue operation, says, "It is a matter of happiness for us. I want to thank PM Modi, the Uttarakhand administration and those involved in the rescue operation on behalf of the UP government."
Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has reached the site as workers are expected to be rescued soon.
CM Dhami says, "..work of inserting the pipe inside the tunnel is complete. All the workers will be rescued soon."
Several ambulances enter the Silkyara tunnel. NDRF, SDRF and several other agencies continue to be at the spot.
Drilling through collapsed Silkyara tunnel over, says Uttarakhand official.
NDRF personnel are present at the entrance of the Slikyara tunnel as pipe has been inserted up to 55.3 metres and one more pipe has to be welded and pushed in.
Mahmood Ahmad, the MD of National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) says, "One more pipe has to be welded today. We will then take out the muck and push the pipe in. Welding takes 1-2 hours..."
An ambulance being taken inside the tunnel. As per the latest update, pipe has been inserted up to 55.3 metres.
Mahmood Ahmad, Managing Director of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), says that 44 metres of vertical drilling has been done out of the required 86 metres. He said vertical drilling has not been stopped completely and all the options are implemented for the rescue operation.
Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: Uttarakhand Secretary and Nodal Officer for Silkayara rescue operation Neeraj Khairwal says, "...As of now, we have pushed in the pipe 55.3 metres. Only a little more distance remains...It might be somewhere between 57-59 metres...It might take a few more hours if there are no more hurdles...By evening we are hoping...Let's pray and hope for the best."
Workers from Jio are assisting those who are carrying out vertical drilling. Jio’s data and voice services have been provided at this vertical location within 12 hours, reported ANI.
Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, "PM collects details on the workers every day. Today, he sought information about the relatives of the workers - arrangements for them, accommodation for them, their condition and the condition of people stuck inside. With the help of technology, pipe has been inserted up to 53 metres. I think two more pipes need to be inserted or maybe there will be a breakthrough even before that. He (PM) was given all the details..."
Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: Micro tunnelling expert Chris Cooper says, "...We are still mining. We have got a couple of more metres to go...We are expecting to see some results by 5 pm. 2-3 metres are left..."
In response to a query on when will the operation get over, he said, "In another three hours," says Chris Cooper, micro tunneling expert."
Tunnel Rescue Ops: International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix joins a priest in praying for the safe evacuation of 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: Vertical drilling on the hill has been stopped for the time being. Manual drilling is going on successfully inside the tunnel and to ensure that there is no hindrance in the drilling work below, vertical drilling has been stopped. Meanwhile, the process of changing machines in vertical drilling is being completed.
"We are still mining...Everybody is very excited and energetic...Let us see what happens. We have stopped vertical drilling and the focus is on manual drilling..." says Micro tunnelling expert Chris Cooper.
Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami once again today and took information regarding the relief and rescue work of workers trapped in the tunnel in Silkyara: Uttarakhand CMO
According to CMO: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inquired from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami about the well-being of the workers trapped in the tunnel. The Prime Minister received complete information regarding drilling. He said that along with the safety of the workers trapped inside, special care should also be taken for the safety of the people engaged in relief work outside. He said that the families of the workers trapped inside should not face any kind of problem. The Prime Minister also discussed the upcoming strategy.
The Chief Minister told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that manual digging work has started. A total of 52 meters of pipe has been pushed so far. If there is no major hindrance, all the workers will be evacuated soon. He said that the health of all the workers trapped inside is safe. Workers, engineers and expert officers engaged in relief and rescue work are making every possible effort.
The Chief Minister said that quality food is being sent regularly to all the workers trapped inside. All the workers are also being kept in constant communication with doctors and psychiatrists. Continuous talks are also being held with the families of the workers trapped inside. He informed that in addition to the communication setup established by SDRF, telephonic communication setup has also been established by BSNL, reports ANI citing the CMO.
Silkyara Tunnel Rescue: International tunnelling expert Arnold Dix says, "I just feel good. The drilling on top of the mountain is coming along perfectly, in the tunnel, it's coming along very well. I have never said 'I feel good' before. I might have heard they (trapped workers) are playing cricket."
Uttarakhand CM Dhami has told reporters that rescuers are just 5 metres away from the breakthrough point of 57 metres as pipe has been pushed up to 52 metres inside the tunnel to safely evacuate labourers.
Road repair work underway near Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand to facilitate the smooth movement of ambulances as rescue operation to evacuate the 41 trapped workers continues.
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, "All engineers, experts and others are working with all their strength. As of now, pipe has gone 52 metres in. The manner in which the work is ongoing, we hope that there will be a breakthrough very soon. As soon as the pipe goes through, the process of bringing out them (workers) will begin. Everyone is fine..."
Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: The relatives of the 41 trapped workers have been asked to be prepared and keep the clothes and bags of the workers ready. The workers will be taken to Chinyalisaur hospital after being rescued and brought out.
Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, speaks to the 41 trapped workers at the rescue site.
Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: Robotics expert Milind Raj says, "I am here for the mental well-being of the 41 workers stuck in the Silkyara tunnel. This is a homegrown indigenous technology...We have systems to monitor the health of workers round the clock. Internet service will also be provided...This rescue robotic system will help detect hazardous gases inside like methane..."
Principal Secretary to PM, Dr PK Mishra visited the Silkyara tunnel and communicated with the workers trapped there. He also spoke with the families of the trapped workers. He also took a report of the food items being sent to the workers.
PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, visits the Silkyara tunnel site as rescue operation continues to evacuate the 41 trapped workers.
Vertical drilling done up to 31 metres: Former DG of BRO Harpal Singh at the Silkyara site.
Micro tunnelling expert Chris Cooper says, "... All the debris (of the Auger machine) removed...(Manual drilling) will probably start after 3 hours...We have 9 meters of hand tunnelling to do. It really depends on how the ground behaves. Could be quickly, could be a bit longer. If we hit some lattice girder. Then we've got to cut out the lattice girder, but we're confident we can get through... The Army is just supervising (the operation)... 30 metres of (vertical drilling) has been done..."
On removal of the 1-2 meters damaged pipe, Former Engineer-In-Chief and BRO DG Lieutenant General (Retd) Harpal Singh says, "In the current situation, the Auger machine that was stuck has been removed. Efforts are underway to remove the 1.5 meters of the damaged pipe. After its removal, strengthening and muck clearance, skilled labourers will go in with the help of the army. We hope this will be done soon..."
Former advisor of PMO Bhaskar Khulbe and Deputy Secretary of PMO Mangesh Ghildiyal arrive at the Silkyara Tunnel rescue site.
Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue: The 1-2 meter damaged part of the 1.2-meter diameter pipeline laid through horizontal drilling is now being removed by rat miners through manual drilling.
Rescuers on Sunday began drilling into the hill above the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel Sunday, boring nearly 20 metres on the first day of adopting the new approach to reach 41 workers trapped inside for 14 days.
Vertical drilling underway at the site of the rescue of 41 workers. Eight metres of drilling work complete, reports ANI.
On the Uttarakhand tunnel rescue operation, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "...This is unfortunate... If the escape route that was planned had been made, this situation would not have arrived... An investigation should be done against those who have not followed the rules and regulations... The state government and central government should make all the efforts to save them and make sure they reach their homes back..."
Indian army has now joined in the Uttarakhand rescue operation. The personnel will begin the manual drilling.
Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue: SJVN begins vertical drilling work on the top of the tunnel. As a second option, vertical drilling work was started from the hill above the tunnel.
On the issue of the absence of an escape tunnel complicating things, International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix says, "It shouldn't have an escape tunnel at this stage because normally you don't expect them to collapse. So, normally around the world, we don't build our tunnels anticipating them to collapse like this. What we do is we put escape tunnels at the end. So, if there is an incident, users can escape. My understanding is that the final design has that but when we are constructing, we normally don't do that..."
International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix says, "...the auger machine failed, and we are having a lot of technical difficulties in getting the auger out from the pipe. That's (the process of cutting it out) going much faster this morning as plasma cutters have come. Brave men who are going in there in a pipe with plasma cutters and cutting it piece by piece, that's happening now. The progress is faster this morning. Once, we have got the auger out, we can go in and have a look at the pipe, see what condition that is in and then we can assess what next..."
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reaches the house of Tanakpur worker Pushkar Singh Airi to meet his family. Airi is one of the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel.
Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, "The plasma machine that has been brought from Hyderabad has started working since morning. Cutting is going on rapidly. 14 metres more remain (to be cut). The auger machine has to be cut and brought out. It seems that it will be completed soon, within a few more hours. After that manual drilling will begin."
Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: Chris Cooper of engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro says, "We are cutting screw out of the auger (machine), that's ongoing. We got a plasma machine to cut it faster."
Indian Air force shares a post on X: "Op #UttarkashiRescue Responding with alacrity to the requirements of the ongoing rescue operation, late last evening the IAF flew in critical DRDO equipment to Dehradun."
Preparation of protection umbrella is underway inside the tunnel where the people from the rescue team are working. A landline facility set up by BSNL here to enable stranded workers to talk to their family members.
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 encountered another problem after the auger machine, critical for horizontal drilling, broke hindering the relief efforts. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said it was very difficult to predict anything when working in the mountains.
"The good news is that the 41 workers who are trapped inside the tunnel are stable. All the basic amenities are being sent. The relatives of the workers who are waiting outside are also talking to them," said NDMA member Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) while addressing a press briefing on Saturday,
Experts at the site said the evacuation will now take more time as they considered the options of vertical and manual drilling for the remaining few metres to reach the workers. International tunneling expert Arnold Dix said it is important to see that none of the trapped workers or the region suffer any damage while they drill through the mountain and hence every step has to be taken with utmost care.
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.
Meanwhile, to help the workers destress, the authorities here have given mobile phones and board games to them, an official said on Saturday, quoted PTI.
"The mobile phones have been given so that the workers can play video games. Board games like ludo, and snakes and ladders have also been provided to them," an official said. "These games will help them bust their stress," another officer said.
A temporary CMO office has been set up in Matali to allow CM Pushkar Singh Dhami to monitor the rescue operation.
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