Rescuers now begin vertical drilling at Silkyara tunnel

NEW DELHI: As operations to rescue 41 workers trapped in Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi entered a third week, all options including the sixth option of 'drifting' were back on the table of rescuers.

Following the auger machine setback, the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited on Sunday started vertical drilling. The rescuers have to drill down nearly 84 m from the top, with 15 m already drilled. SJVNL is hopeful of completing this task in the next few days if they do not encounter any hurdle.

The National Disaster Management Authority on Sunday said rescuers were trying to retrieve broken parts of the auger machine. "Once the broken parts are retrieved, manual digging of 15 m will be done to reach out to the trapped workers, though it may take time," NDMA member Syed Ata Hasnain said, adding that as many as six options are on the table. "The best option is horizontal drilling under which 47 m has been completed," he said.

"The broken part of the auger machine, which was stuck in the 47-metre long segment, has been retrieved up to 34 m and approximately 13 m are still remaining. We hope that it will be brought out by tonight (Sunday night)," Hasnain said.

Apart from the experts from Defence Research and Development Organisation, specialists from Chandigarh and Hyderabad have also been roped in.

"A complete disengagement of the machine is necessary for the officials to resume the rescue work, which involves manual pushing of pipes through rubble to prepare an escape passage. A part of a drill machine has also been sent atop the hill, above the tunnel, for vertical drilling," he said.

Rail Vikas Nigam Limited is expected to start perpendicular horizontal drilling, which is meant for making a concrete bed. A unit of Madras Sappers, an engineer group of the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army, also arrived at the site on Sunday to assist in rescue operations.