Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: Specialist Equipment Airlifted to Rescue Site; NDMA Says Workers Getting Sufficient Oxygen, Water

Road, Transport and Highways Secretary Anurag Jain said that horizontal boring from the Silkyara is underway and if everything goes smoothly, it could take two to three days at least to get all the workers out.

Keeping in mind, the space, health and digestion of the workers trapped inside the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse site, cook Sanjeet Rana said that they were served veg pulao, matar paneer and butter chapati.

“We have cooked veg pulao, mattar paneer, and butter chapati for the people trapped inside. We have packed the food in an accurate portion. The food is less spicy and less oily,” Rana said.

Road, Transport and Highways Secretary Anurag Jain said that horizontal boring from the Silkyara end to rescue workers using an Augur boring machine is underway and if everything goes smoothly, it could take two to three days at least to get all the workers out. READ MORE

It will be safer to do horizontal drilling to rescue the 41 labourers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, a former GSI official said on Tuesday.

Tribhuwan Singh Pangti, who retired as the additional director general of the Geological Survey of India (GSI) told .

Additional Secretary Technical, Road and Transport Mahmood Ahmed said, “First, the NHIDCL has ensured the facility of oxygen supply, food, water or medicine. There are lights and an electricity supply inside. There is a place up to 2km inside as the tunnel was already built.”

“From the 4-inch pipeline, we were sending dry fruits and other eatables… Through the 6-inch pipeline, we sent a walkie-talkie inside and established communication. We also got a video showing that all of them are in good mental and physical health,” he added.

Special grade pipes manufactured by Rourkela Steel Plant were airlifted by the Indian Air Force to augment the rescue operation at the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse site, an official said.

Tuesday was the second day that the special grade pipes were airlifted for use at the tunnel collapse site at Uttarkashi, the official said.

Additional Secretary Technical, Road and Transport Mahmood Ahmed said that multiple agencies are coordinating to get the trapped workers out of the collapsed tunnel site.

“We have gathered multiple agencies. We are coordinating with them. Each agency has been assigned a specific task. Our team is monitoring everything so that coordination between all agencies is maintained,” he said.

“We are taking all possible contributions from the army, BRO and other agencies. The district administration is cooperating with us. NDRF and SDRF are also working. We are making constant efforts to rescue our workers trapped inside,” he added.

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.