Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse LIVE: Rescue Officials Clear Air about Condition of Trapped Workers, Say 'There's Ample of Space'

NDMA’s Hasnain said that the Auger machine was deployed and has been at work since November 16 adding that the Indian Airforce and Railways have helped in the transportation of required equipment.

The rescue team also added that the BRO has made tracks and raw roads to ferry the heavy equipment and it might take a day or two to reach all the machinery.

“3-4 metres will be dug through blasting from Barkot end,” he added.

Speaking about the rescue operation, NDMA Member Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain said, “It is a challenging effort. International consultations have also been done and experts have been roped in to facilitate the efforts.”

About the condition of the workers, he said, “There could be a perception that workers must be in shrunk space. I want to tell you there is ample space and lighting available.”

ITBP, Fire services, BRO, Indian Army and various Technical agencies are helping in rescue operations on the site of the tunnel collapse in Uttarkashi, said Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, while commenting on whether an investigation will be launched into the Uttarkashi tunnel incident, has said that “Actions will be definitely taken against all suspicions but right now the priority is for all workers to come out safely…”

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that food is being sent to the trapped workers through the 6-inch lifeline pipe. “We pray to God for any of our options to succeed at the earliest and for our workers to be brought out. PM is taking information from us every day… Everyone is giving our best.”

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, BJP’s Gajendra Shekhawat said, “It was Modi government which made an OBC Commission. Congress displaying its lack of intellect by making such statements. They have waken up to caste census after all these decades.”

The wielding of pipes has started and currently the fifth pipe is being wielded to the four pipes which have already gone inside the debris.

Sources have said that generally the wielding process takes two hours, after which another 40-45 minutes is required for the wielding to cool down. It is only after this that the drilling will start.

It is expected that the drilling will start in the next three hours.

Workers trapped inside Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi interacted with their family members through the pipeline inserted.

WATCH HERE:

International tunneling expert Arnold Dix has said that there are still some technical issues at the site but also added that these issues will be there till the men are rescued. “My next job is to go up on top of the mountain, to the side of the mountain, back of the mountain and check the progress there as well,” he noted.

Dix said that the American auger machine is not working at the moment but is in preparation, adding that, “Augering requires very precise engineering because if we get it wrong, it could cause an avalanche…” he added.

International tunneling expert Arnold Dix has said that works are underway to get the new 6-inch wide lifeline pipe fully functioning.

“The works are being done for the augering of the evacuation tunnel, which is being drilled as well. The works are also being done to create safe places within the tunnel. This is still an extremely dangerous environment, so we’re making it safe for the rescuers in there as well,” Dix told ANI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Delhi late on Monday and took a meeting to review the tunnel rescue operation.

Sources have said that every morning and even during the day, the prime minister speaks to CM Dhami to stay informed on the situation.

Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has noted that all the agencies and officials are working on rescuing the 41 trapped workers, adding that with their hard work, food is now being sent inside via the 6-inch pipeline.

“This is definitely encouraging for us. We pray to God for the rescue operation to conclude at the earliest and for all our workers to come out safely. PM is collecting details every day and providing all possible help to us. I gave all the details to the PM today…” Dhami added.

A machine going to the rescue operation site got stuck due to the road being narrow leading to the halt of traffic on both sides.

Currently an operation is underway to widen the road, which will allow the machine to pass through it.

International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix has said that the vertical drilling will start once the site is properly prepared because “it is very important that it is done very accurately…”

“It is great to see the faces of those men that we are going to bring home. We have food going to them now, we have communications to them now. You have seen this morning that we have multiple approaches to the rescue,” Dix said.

He also noted that two locations have been identified for vertical drilling. “We are going to rescue these men. 41 men are going to be coming home and no one going to be hurt, that’s the mission…” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke to Uttarkhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to again take stock of the ongoing rescue operations at the Silkyara tunnel.

Taking to the microblogging site, CM Dhami wrote, “Respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji called again today and took information about the relief and rescue operations of the workers trapped in the tunnel under construction in Silkyara, Uttarkashi.”

“On this occasion, the Honorable Prime Minister was informed about the successful construction of a 6-inch diameter pipeline across the debris and the delivery of food and other essential items to the workers through it,” Dhami wrote.

He also noted that the prime minister was “also informed about the conversation with labor brothers with the help of endoscopic flexi camera and their efficiency. The Prime Minister also said that it is our top priority to evacuate all the labor brothers safely.”

One of the family members of a worker trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel has said that they are hopeful but “I will be satisfied once I get to speak to him.”

More 900 mm pipes have been brought near Silkyara Tunnel to enable teams to reach the 41 workers trapped inside.

Rescue team officials established audio-video contact with the trapped workers via an endoscopic flexi camera.

A morning meal has been prepared for the workers trapped inside the partially collapsed Silkyara Tunnel.

The food will be pushed through a 6-inch wide lifeline pipe, which was drilled into the tunnel on Monday.

One of the cooks from the team told ANI that ‘Aloo Chana Dal’ had been prepared and ‘Khichdi’ and ‘Daliya’ are also among the options of food as per the instructions given to them.

Visuals from the other end of the tunnel from the Barkot side have also surfaced amid the ongoing rescue operations at the site of the partially collapsed tunnel.