Uttarkashi. The rescue operation was started again on Thursday after removing the obstruction during drilling in the debris to rescue 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand. Officials were looking at the possibility of completing the rescue operation during Wednesday night but the operation was delayed by several hours due to iron rods coming in during drilling of the debris. Former advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office, Bhaskar Khulbe, who was present on the spot, said that iron rods had fallen into the debris during drilling using an American auger machine. However, he said that it was cut through a gas cutter.
Due to this, there was a delay of about five-six hours in the work of penetrating the 57 meter debris, which reduced the atmosphere of enthusiasm created on Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, Secretary Neeraj Khairwal, who has been made the nodal officer by the Uttarakhand government to coordinate the rescue operations, told a press conference here that 1.8 meters of the pipe went inside after a blockage on Wednesday night while moving 45 meters under the debris. Is. He told that while drilling further 45 meters, a girder got stuck in the auger machine due to which a part of the machine was also broken. Khairwal said that to cut the girder, the auger machine had to be brought back and its various parts had to be separated, which took more than two hours.
NDRF team removed the hurdle, operation started again
He said that after going inside the tunnel, the experts, with the help of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team, cut the bars and removed the blockage in two-two and a half hours. He said, ‘The good thing is that even after all this the pipe has gone inside by 1.8 inches more.’ He said that after this, the machine felt pressure during drilling, due to which the pipe was not being moved forward and was being examined. Managing Director of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Mahmood Ahmed, who was present at the press conference, said, ‘Our hopes and morale are high and we want to move forward with our work rapidly.’
Drilling done up to 48 meters, only 10-12 meters left
Thus, till now 46.8 meters of debris has been penetrated while 12-13 meters more have to be penetrated. Another official said that drilling has been done up to 48 meters. A part of the tunnel being built on the Yamunotri National Highway had collapsed on November 12 and for the last 11 days, 41 workers are trapped inside it, for whom rescue operations are being carried out on a war footing. By drilling with the auger machine, a path is being made to evacuate the workers by connecting six meter long, 800 mm diameter pipes to it.
NDRF soldiers did mock drill
Officials said that once the pipe reaches the other side of the debris, NDRF personnel will go inside and bring out the workers one by one, for which a mock drill has been done. The workers will be brought out with the help of ropes by laying them on low-height stretchers fitted with wheels. Bhaskar Khulbe said that this process is also likely to take three hours.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached the spot and talked to the workers.
Meanwhile, oxygen, food, water, medicines and other goods are being continuously sent to the workers through the pipeline laid on Monday. Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways General VK Singh and NDRF Director General Atul Karwal also reached Silkyara to review the rescue operations. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also reached the spot and talked to the workers trapped in the tunnel for the last 11 days and encouraged them. During this time the Union Minister was also present with him.
Told the workers – the whole country stands with you
While talking to the workers through the ‘audio communication setup’ installed in the tunnel, Dhami told them that the relief and rescue work is going on war footing and the rescue workers have reached very close to them. Dhami said, ‘We have come ahead by about 45 meters (through the debris). The whole country stands with you. All of you keep your spirits up.
CM camp office built near the incident site
The Chief Minister asked two workers – Gabbar Singh Negi and Saba Ahmed – about the workers and praised both of them for maintaining everyone’s morale. Dhami also talked to the workers working day and night in the rescue operation and patted them on the back. Meanwhile, in view of the ongoing rescue operation in Silkyara, a temporary chief minister’s camp office has been set up in nearby Matali.
Did not even celebrate the festival of Egas, CM is in Uttarkashi district since Wednesday
According to a press release, this temporary camp office of the Chief Minister has been established in order to ensure that government work is not affected during the rescue operation and that the operation is also monitored in a better manner. The Chief Minister is present in Uttarkashi district since Wednesday evening. On the other hand, the Chief Minister decided not to celebrate the festival of Egas on Thursday and also canceled the program organized at the Chief Minister’s residence.
We’re at the front door and knocking on it
Three scientists from the Central Mining and Fuel Research Institute located in Roorkee have reached the spot to take stock of the work. Tunnel expert RD Dwivedi is also included in this. International tunnel expert Arnold Dix said, ‘At this moment it feels as if we are at the front door and knocking on it. We know there are people on the other side.
Preparation to provide immediate medical facilities, all laborers will be sent to hospital
Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi said that once the workers come out, they will be provided immediate medical aid. He said that a 41-bed hospital has been prepared at Chinyalisaur Community Health Centre, 30 kilometers away from the incident site. Ambulances equipped with doctors and equipment are also standing ready outside the tunnel. Director General of NDRF said that the workers trapped in the tunnel are fine. He said, ‘The people working in the tunnel are mentally strong and these people also know that tremendous efforts are being made to get them out, so they are hopeful.’
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Tags: Rescue operation, Rescue Team, Uttarakhand news, Uttarakhand News Today, Uttarkashi News
FIRST PUBLISHED : November 24, 2023, 12:05 AM IST
