Uttarakhand Rescue Operations: As relief operations entered day 17 on Tuesday to evacuate trapped 41 workers, 'rat-hole' mining experts began manual drilling for the 10-12 metres of the part that was left to be drilled after the auger machine broke down. First visuals of the manual drilling have also come forth where four men can be seen drilling through the tunnel. By the time of filing this report, the pipe was pushed through around 55.3 metres inside the tunnel and the workers were at around a distance of 57-59 metres.
Experts are hopeful that a breakthrough could be achieved later in the evening today.
Meanwhile, vertical drilling has been put on hold as of now. Mahmood Ahmad, Managing Director of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), said 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.
"...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," Uttarakhand Secretary and Nodal Officer for Silkayara rescue operation Neeraj Khairwal said.
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been collecting the 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....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..." the Chief Minister said.
Micro tunnelling expert Chris Cooper meanwhile said, "...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 would the operation get over, he said, "In another three hours," says Chris Cooper, micro tunneling expert."