U'khand Tunnel Collapse: Drilling Halted Due To Snag, IAF Airlifts Crucial Equipment From Indore

Rescue teams have drilled through up to 24 metres of debris in the Silkyara tunnel by Friday afternoon, inching closer to the trapped workers who have been trapped for almost a week.

As the rescue effort continues for the 40 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is back in action, as it airlifted approximately 22 tonnes of crucial equipment from Indore to Dehradun via a C-17 transport aircraft, PTI reported. Despite initial momentum, drilling work within the tunnel came to a halt on Saturday. Anshu Manish Khulko, Director of NHIDCL (the tunnel-making company), told ANI that there is a pause in drilling. However, Khulko clarified that it was not due to any malfunction in the machine. Reports suggest that drilling was halted after workers heard a 'cracking' sound and encountered a technical snag.

Rescue teams diligently drilled through up to 24 metres of debris in the Silkyara tunnel by Friday afternoon, progressively nearing the trapped workers who had been in distress for nearly a week.

"The IAF has continued with its operations to assist the ongoing tunnel rescue underway at Dharasu, Uttarakhand. An IAF C-17 has been deployed to airlift almost 22 Tonnes of critical equipment from Indore to Dehradun. #FirstResponders #HADROps," the IAF posted on X.

Earlier in the week, the IAF encountered challenges during rescue operations near Uttarkashi, facing a setback due to equipment failure that impeded passage creation.

In a time-sensitive response, the IAF swiftly mobilised a special operation using the C-130J Super Hercules to deliver the essential equipment close to the tunnel. This operation, executed within five hours, strategically utilised Dharasu ALG in Chinyalisaur, an airstrip situated about 30 km from the rescue site, standing at an elevation of 3,000 ft above sea level with a modest 3,600 ft length, reported PTI.

Collaborating with civil administration and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), the IAF meticulously planned and executed this critical mission. A preliminary assessment via an IAF helicopter ensured the operational feasibility before initiating the final mission.

Despite previous assessments deeming Dharasu ALG unsuitable for routine operations, the IAF made a decisive call to activate it for this urgent mission. Before the final operation, an IAF helicopter with a C-130J pilot aboard conducted multiple assessments to ascertain the runway conditions and determine the most viable approach for clearance, according to PTI.

Overcoming challenges such as limited visibility, manoeuvring heavy loads on a restricted runway, and unloading within confined spaces, the IAF successfully transported 27.5 tonnes of critical rescue equipment to the remote airstrip. To facilitate unloading from the C130J aircraft, a makeshift mud ramp was quickly constructed, preventing delays in subsequent rescue operations.