Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Administration to explore vertical drilling to reach 41 workers

Uttarkashi: Officials revise number of trapped workers to 41, almost a week since tunnel collapse

BY | Saturday, 18 November, 2023

Bhaskar Khulbe, Former Advisor Prime Minister Office, on Saturday visited the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand where a massive operation is going on to rescue 41 trapped workers after a landslide. Speaking to ANI, Khulbe disclosed that the joint agencies were exploring the option of vertical drilling.

He said that all possibilities would be explored to reach the workers. Stating that there was no lack of resources, options and ideas, Khulbe said, “we just need some coordinated action and we are trying to make teams and reach there somehow.”

Later, Uttarkashi Divisional Forest Officer, DP Baluni told ANI that the administration will now try to reach the workers vertically. “A spot right above the tunnel has been identified and marked. A hole will be drilled from there to reach there. The depth of the whole would be approximately 300-350 feet,” the officer said. He also added that horizontal attempt of rescue would also begin from Barkot end of the tunnel, ANI informed.

After almost a week since the workers were trapped inside the tunnel, officials have today revised the number to 41.

The rescue operation was halted on Friday due to a machine breakdown as anxiety continues to grow with every passing hour. On 15th November, the drilling was stopped and a more powerful drilling machine was airlifted by the Indian Air Force and installed the next day. On 17th November, the IAF had airlifted another critical equipment from Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami conducted another high level meeting where he directed officers “to take every necessary step to deal with the obstacles coming in the rescue operation.” He reiterated that evacuating all the workers trapped in the tunnel safely is the top priority.

The Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand is being constructed by NHIDCL through Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd at a cost of ₹853.79 crore.

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