'Can't Predict Anything In Mountains': NDMA As Uttarkashi Tunnel Recue Ops Hit Repeated Hurdles

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a high-level meeting with the officials concerned and asked them to remove the auger machine stuck inside as soon as possible.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami takes stock of the Silkyara tunnel rescue operation.

Source : ANI

New Delhi: Amid repeated stumbling blocks in the operation to rescue 41 workers who are trapped in the Uttarkashi tunnel for the last 13 days, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) member Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) said it is very difficult to predict anything when working in the mountains. However, the good news is that the workers stuck inside are stable and they have been talking to their relatives who are camping outside.

Addressing a press briefing on Saturday, Hasnain said, “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.”

#WATCH | Silkyara tunnel rescue operation | Member of the National Disaster Management Authority, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.) says, "The good news is that the 41 workers are stuck inside are stable. All the basic things are being sent...The relatives of the workers have… pic.twitter.com/TWIcPwMilL

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2023

Speaking about the hurdles being faced in the rescue operation, the senior NDMA member said the auger machine has been damaged and some of its parts have not been brought out. He further said advanced machinery is being airlifted by the Indian Air Force to bring out the part of the auger machine stuck inside.

“Whatever methods we are using right now, we have to have some patience. We need to understand that a very difficult operation is underway. Two methods are being used simultaneously, but a third procedure, that is draft method, may also be used soon. Currently, 47-metre digging has been done. We have to keep that part stable and remove the broken part of the Auger machine. I feel in the next 1-2 days, drilling will resume. This operation may take longer and we need to boost the morale of the labourers and the family members,” Hasnain said.

“I feel everyone has their focus on this operation as to when this will be over. But you need to understand that this operation is getting more and more complex. We have never given you any stipulated time for its completion. When you have these kind of operations in the mountains, you cannot predict anything. This is exactly a situation like war,” he added.

Speaking at the presser, Vishan Chauhan, NHAI member said digging till 47 metres has been done and the next 12-15 metres will be dug manually. But the priority is to rescue the workers.

“We have reached 47 metres. We now have to go 12-15 metres more. It could be 10, 12 or 14 metres that we have to go manually. The environment impact assessment of this project has also been done. There are several things that cannot be predicted but our priority is to rescue the workers,” Chauhan said.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a high-level meeting with all the agencies and officials of the state administration engaged in the ongoing rescue operation, ANI reported.

He took stock of the situation and directed the officials to ensure the auger machine stuck inside is removed as early as possible.

Earlier in the day, he said a plasma cutter was being flown from Hyderabad to cut the auger machine which is stuck in the tunnel, ANI reported.