Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami left for Uttarkashi on late Wednesday afternoon as the rescue operation at Silkyara tunnel made significant progress, raising expectations that the 41 labourers could be evacuated on Wednesday night itself.
In a post on X, Dhami announced that work was on swiftly and a total of 45 meters of drilling had been completed out of the total 60 meters of debris after resuming work with the auger machine. Both vertical and horizontal drilling options are being pursued through equipment procured by the Central Government, he added.
Further, the Uttarakhand CM said, “With the help of NDRF and SDRF, audio communication setup has been prepared with the workers trapped inside, after which everyone is being made to talk to the doctors one by one. Keeping in mind the mental health of the workers, they are also being made to talk to a psychiatrist. The well-being of our workers is our top priority.”
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Earlier, former advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office, Bhaskar Khulbe enthusiastically told media persons that in one hour, the team were successful in drilling 6 meters of the debris. He expressed hope that in the remaining 15 meters can be completed in the next phase.
As the auger boring machine drills the debris inside the Silkyara tunnel, the rescue team is laying 900mm pipe and pushing 800mm pipe inside it for the workers to crawl out to safety.
As the situation becomes more hopeful, ambulances have started arriving at the site, various media reports have said, who also informed that up to 45 ambulances have been summoned.
#IAF assistance for the rescue operations at Uttarkashi continues unabated.
Employing a C-17 and two C-130 J aircraft, the IAF airlifted another 36 tonnes of critical equipment today.
IAF #HADROps will continue until all the equipment is delivered. pic.twitter.com/Dje5fQFtq2
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) November 20, 2023
On Monday, the team successfully installed a six-inch diameter pipeline through which the essential provisions of the stranded workers are being sent. Further through this pipeline, the visual communication was established with them.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Tuesday, informing about the progress in the rescue operation in Silkyara tunnel stated that the government maintains constant communication to boost the morale of those trapped.
