Uttarakhand Chief Minister at the mishap site today.
Silkyara (Uttarkashi): 12 days after the Silkyara tunnel collapse, 41 workers continue to remain trapped, with fruits, “freshly cooked” food, medicines and salts being supplied to them from a “second” lifeline (150 mm dia) service which has been extended from the initial position to a distance of 12 metres “to ensure higher stability and safety”.
The 2 km section of the tunnel, with completed concrete work ensuring the safety of the workers, is the focus of the rescue efforts.
A modified communication system with wire connectivity developed by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is being used for communication regularly. People inside have reported that they are safe.
Auger drilling, which started at 0045 hours on November 22, was halted due to a metallic object (Lattice girder rib) being encountered in front of the pipe and the pipe could not be inserted further. A bent part of the forepole (pipe) from the tunnel lining was struck in the auger assembly which led to vibrations. However, the augur re-assembly work was completed and reinserted by 1430 hours.
Uttarakhand Chief Miniter Pushkar Singh Dhami today conducted an on-site inspection of the ongoing rescue operation in Silkyara, Uttarkashi tunnel.
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Trapped workers’ nightmare continues inside Silkyara tunnel
Efforts on to rescue 40 workers after tunnel collapses in Uttarakhand
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said today that the platform for the auger machine has been strengthened by way of anchoring, bolting, concreting foundation and the strengthening of the platform for the augur machine using the accelerating agent for rapid hardening of concrete is completed. Cutting of metallic objects (Lattice Girder rib) using gas cutters has also been completed. Moreover, the air drilling rig machine from Indore has also reached the site.
Drilling machines have arrived at the site and their assembly has started. A platform for launching of drilling machine has been completed. The marking of the drilling point over the tunnel has been finalized and various government agencies are working on each assigned specific task to ensure the safe evacuation of the workers. National and International experts are present at the site to advise on the rescue operation. THDC India Limited has initiated the construction of a rescue tunnel from the Barkot end, with four blasts already completed, resulting in a 9.10-meter drift. Moreover, equipment for micro tunnelling required for horizontal drilling to rescue labourers has reached the site and the equipment will be set up by November 25, 2023. Vertical drilling at the Silkyara end is likely to be completed by November 26, 2023.
It may be mentioned that on November 12, 2023, a collapse occurred in the under-construction tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot due to debris falling in a 60-meter stretch on the Silkyara side. 41 labourers got trapped in the tunnel collapse.
Initially opting for a 900 mm pipe through the debris, safety concerns led to the exploration of multiple rescue options simultaneously. The area of entrapment, measuring 8.5 meters in height and 2 kilometres in length, is the built-up portion of the tunnel, offering safety to the labourers with available electricity and water supply.
Five agencies—ONGC, SJVNL, RVNL, NHIDCL, and THDCL—have been assigned specific responsibilities, working collaboratively with occasional task adjustments for operational efficiency.
– global bihari bureau
