Rescue operations to save 40 construction workers who were trapped under debris in a collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district have reached Day 5. These workers have been confined within the tunnel for over 96 hours, with their lives in danger.
The incident occurred on November 12 when the Silkyara Tunnel project experienced a collapse, trapping the workers inside. However, efforts are being made to provide them with essential supplies of food and medicines. Rescue teams are also maintaining regular communication with the workers to keep their spirits high and hope alive.
The rescue operation took a positive turn with the deployment of an ‘American auger’ machine inside the tunnel. This specialized equipment is expected to speed up the clearing process and bring the trapped workers closer to safety. The machine arrived in separate components at the Chinyalisaur airport, located more than 30 kilometers from the collapsed tunnel on the Char Dham pilgrimage route. The plan involves using the machine to excavate a passage through the debris of the collapsed tunnel section.
Once the passage is cleared, 800-mm and 900-mm diameter segments of mild steel pipes will be installed one at a time. This will allow the workers trapped on the other side of the rubble to crawl to safety. However, the rescue operations faced a setback yesterday when a fresh landslide occurred after more than 70 hours of relentless efforts. The teams had spent a considerable amount of time constructing a platform for the ‘American auger’, but had to disassemble the machine and restart the platform construction due to the landslide.
Dr. Sudhir Krishna, a former secretary at the Union Urban Development Ministry, has identified several challenges that are hindering the rescue operation. He pointed out that the Himalayan region mainly consists of soft rocks, making it difficult to carry out the rescue work. Challenges such as landslides and land subsidence are also affecting the progress.
Dr. Krishna emphasized the need for collaboration between the state government, the central government, and experts in order to overcome these challenges. He questioned the urgency of the project, stating that reducing travel time from 50 minutes to five minutes is not worth jeopardizing lives.
It is important to note that the under-construction tunnel is part of the Char Dham project, a national infrastructure initiative aimed at improving connectivity to the Hindu pilgrimage sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
