'First Breakthrough' In Uttarkashi Rescue, 6-Inch Pipeline Installed For Supplies To Trapped 41 — Updates

Uttarkashi Rescue Day 9: A 6-inch pipeline has been installed at the tunnel where 41 workers have been trapped. It will help send different food items to the workers and facilitate better ventilation, an official said.

The Silkyara tunnel, part of the Char Dham all-weather road, collapsed on November 12, trapping 41 workers behind a massive mound of debris. ( Image Source :PTI )

Officials on Monday said that a 6-inch pipeline has been installed at the collapsed tunnel where 41 workers have been trapped for a harrowing nine days. This comes as International tunneling expert Arnold Dix, from the Geneva-based International Tunneling and Underground Space Association, joined the efforts to review and guide the rescue operations. The pipeline will be used for the supply of food, medicines, and other essential items to the workers.

"We have achieved our first breakthrough, for which we had been trying for the last nine days and was our first priority. A 6-inch pipe has been installed and they (trapped workers) can hear us through it. We will now provide them with food and medical supplies through that pipe," Anshu Mansish Khalkho, Director, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), said, as per PTI.

VIDEO | Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: "We have achieved our first breakthrough, for which we had been trying for the last nine days and was our first priority. A 6-inch pipe has been installed and they (trapped workers) can hear us through it. We will now provide them with food and… pic.twitter.com/gfww1hlLE8

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 20, 2023

"A six-inch pipe has been laid at the tunnel through which different food items will be sent to trapped workers and it will also facilitate better ventilation there," he told PTI.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also posted about this development as he wrote, "As part of the ongoing rescue operation to rescue workers trapped inside the tunnel under construction in Silkyara, Uttarkashi, a 6-inch diameter pipeline has been successfully laid across the debris. Now through this, food items, medicines and other goods will be easily sent to the workers as per the requirement. Central agencies, SDRF and state administration teams engaged in rescue operations are working tirelessly. We are working on a war footing to evacuate all the workers safely."

The rescue team will also attempt to install a WiFi connection inside the tunnel.

"We will send food, mobile, and chargers to the people who are trapped inside the tunnel. We will also try to install a WiFi connection inside. DRDO robots are also working," Colonel Deepak Patil, the rescue operation in-charge, told news agency ANI.

A cook identified as Hemant told ANI that for the first time, hot food would be sent to the trapped workers, "Food will be sent to the people trapped inside. We have prepared food for 41 people. 750 gm has been prepared for one person. For the first time, hot food is being sent to them. Today Khichdi is being sent to them, oranges, apples and sweet lemon juice have also been sent. From tomorrow Dalia and other food items will be sent to them..."

Nipu Kumar, a safety staff personnel, told ANI that a Walkie-talkie had been sent inside the tunnel to establish communication. 

Uttarkashi Rescue: IAF Airlifts Another 36 Tonnes Of Critical Equipment

Meanwhile, the Indian Air Force (IAF) informed that a C-17 and two C-130 J aircraft were used to airlift another 36 tonnes of critical equipment today.

Drone visuals of the Silkyara tunnel also surfaced.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to assess the rescue operation for the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel.

Stressing the importance of maintaining the morale of the workers, PM Modi emphasised the Centre's commitment to providing necessary rescue equipment and resources. 

PM Modi, in his third interaction with CM Dhami regarding the tunnel rescue, received a detailed briefing on the operations, PTI reported. CM Dhami assured the PM that all trapped workers are safe, with a continuous supply of oxygen, nutritious food, and water. Various agencies are collaborating under expert guidance to ensure a safe evacuation.

International tunneling expert Arnold Dix expressed optimism about the safe evacuation of the trapped workers, commending the ongoing efforts. He highlighted the extensive preparations made for the evacuation. Although a specific timeline was not provided, Dix emphasised the commitment to ensuring both the safety of the trapped workers and the rescuers, as per PTI.

Notably, CM Dhami announced that the Uttarakhand government would cover the travel, food, and lodging expenses of the relatives of the trapped workers. He assured the families of a swift rescue and directed officials to maintain regular communication with them. Psychiatric support has been enlisted to uphold the morale of the trapped workers.

The Silkyara tunnel, part of the Char Dham all-weather road, collapsed on November 12, trapping 41 workers behind a massive mound of debris. The rescue operation is ongoing, with medical teams and a team from the Prime Minister's Office actively involved in overseeing the efforts.