Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse: Trapped Workers Likely To Be Rescued In Next Few Hours

Rescue efforts are ongoing to free 41 workers who have been trapped for 11 days in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel. The workers were trapped after a portion of the under-construction tunnel on the Uttarakhand Char Dham route collapsed, cutting off its exit. The rescue operation has faced obstacles, including a metallic object that was encountered in the front of the pipe, preventing it from being inserted further. However, cutting of the metallic object has been completed, and the pushing of the 9th pipe has begun.

Rescue expected in next few hours or by tomorrow

NDMA member Lt Gen retd Syed Ata Hasnain said on Thursday evening that the rescue operation is expected to be successful in the next few hours or by tomorrow. He noted that the horizontal drilling to rescue workers may face 3-4 more hurdles, and it would not be fair to speculate on the timeline for rescue operations. 41 ambulances, one for each trapped worker, are in place at the tunnel site, and facilities are in place to airlift workers in serious condition.

Workers are safe, rescue agencies working tirelessly

Hasnain further said that the workers trapped inside are safe, and there is no shortage of light or oxygen. Food, water, clothes, and medicines are being supplied to them. A better communication channel with the workers has now been established, allowing authorities to talk directly with the trapped men. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are at the site, conducting rehearsals and practice for the recovery of the trapped men.

Five-option action plan in place

The government has undertaken a five-option action plan to rescue the workers, and five agencies have been assigned specific responsibilities. The agencies are working collaboratively, with occasional task adjustments for operational efficiency. THDC has initiated the construction of a rescue tunnel from the Barkot-end, with four blasts already completed. Equipment for micro-tunneling required for horizontal drilling to rescue laborers has reached the site. The Army is mobilizing box culverts for this purpose, and BRO has completed the construction of an approach road for vertical drilling.

The rescue efforts to free the trapped workers in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel are ongoing, with authorities expressing hope that the workers will be rescued soon. The rescue operation has faced challenges, but the government and various agencies are working tirelessly to ensure the safe rescue of the workers.