Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse Live Updates: ‘Good News’ Likely Soon As Rescue Ops Enter ‘Crucial Stage’

With the rescuers focusing on the ‘horizontal drilling’ method to evacuate 41 labourers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel, the officials have expressed confidence that if everything goes right, some ‘good news’ will come up in the next 40 hours. In the ongoing efforts to rescue 41 labourers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, authorities are now adopting a strategic shift in their approach. The use of ‘horizontal drilling’ has become the focal point of the rescue mission, with officials expressing optimism that a positive breakthrough is imminent.

Additional Secretary Technical, Road and Transport, Mahmood Ahmed, provided insights into the altered drilling methodology. Now, 800 mm-diameter pipes, a reduction from the initial 900 mm, are being employed with the telescoping method. The adjustment aims to navigate the challenging conditions within the tunnel more effectively.

‘Good News’ Soon, Say Officials
Ahmed, addressing a press briefing, shared that the horizontal drilling efforts from both the Silkyara and Barkot sides are progressing. He expressed confidence, stating, “If everything goes right, we will come up with some ‘good news’ in the next 40 hours.” While the focus is on horizontal drilling, challenges posed by the rock formation have prompted authorities to consider vertical drilling as a secondary option. The use of 800-mm pipes, according to Mahmood Ahmed, will facilitate a smoother process.

First Glimpse of Trapped Workers Brings Hope
In a significant development, the first visuals of the trapped workers emerged on Tuesday. An endoscopic camera sent through a new six-inch wide pipeline captured the workers wearing yellow and white helmets. The footage showed them receiving food items and communicating with each other, offering a glimpse into their conditions. Officials watching them on a screen were heard giving instructions, asking them to clean the lens. The workers were told to come near the camera and use walkie-talkies, apparently sent down earlier.

The camera was then pulled back up so that water could be released under pressure to clean the pipeline. Relatives had talked earlier to the trapped workers through the four-inch compressor tube that already existed. Food items like dry fruit were also being sent through that thinner pipe.

Enhanced Communication Through ‘Lifeline’ Pipeline
The deployment of the new pipeline serves as a morale booster for both the trapped workers and their anxious relatives. The improved communication allows for better coordination, and larger quantities of food, including oranges, dalia, khichdi, sliced apples, and bananas, can now be sent through the lifeline.

PM Modi Reviews Rescue Operation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and enquired about the progress of the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue work which entered the 11th day. The Chief Minister, in a post on X, said that PM Modi enquired about the progress made in the last 24 hours. PM Modi also reiterated the government’s commitment to the rescue mission. In a conversation with the Uttrakhand Chief Minister, he emphasized that the safe rescue of all trapped workers remains a top priority.

Health Concerns, Evacuation Plans
A doctor, communicating with the trapped workers through the new pipeline, reported some complaints, including a burning sensation while passing urine. Electrolyte powder packets, multivitamin tablets, and anti-depressants are being sent to address health concerns. Uttarakhand Director General (Health), Vinita Shah, is overseeing preparations for the workers’ evacuation to different hospitals in the district.

Multi-Front Rescue Efforts
Simultaneous efforts on five fronts, as highlighted by NDMA member Lt General (retd) Hasnain, signify the comprehensive approach to the rescue mission. The coordination involves deploying heavy machinery and constructing roads to facilitate alternative approaches.

Tribhuwan Singh Pangti, a retired additional director general of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), emphasized the safety of horizontal drilling, while international tunnelling expert Arnold Dix pointed out the precision required in vertical drilling.

As the rescue mission enters a crucial phase, the collective efforts aim to ensure the safe evacuation of the trapped workers, offering a ray of hope in the face of adversity.

Char Dham Project
A group of 41 workers got trapped after a section of the 4.5-kilometre tunnel along the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway collapsed on November 12. This tunnel, intended to connect Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi, constitutes a segment of the Char Dham project. The under-construction tunnel aims to enhance connectivity to the Hindu pilgrimage sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.

The workers, fortunate to have escaped without any injuries, currently reside within a 400-meter safety zone situated behind a substantial 200-meter stretch of rocky debris and coordinated efforts are underway for the past 11 days to rescue them safely.