The Indian Air Force has positioned a Chinook helicopter at the Chinyalisaur airstrip in Uttarakhand, where an emergency medical center has been established to treat the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel. The rescue teams are just two meters away from breaking into the collapsed cavern after 17 days of efforts. The Chinook helicopter can be used for urgent medical aid for the rescued workers, either by airlifting them to the Chinyalisaur hospital, located 30 km away, or to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Rishikesh, around 160 km away. However, the helicopter is considered a backup option.
In addition to the helicopter, 41 ambulances are on standby at the tunnel collapse site, with one ambulance assigned to each worker. The local police will create a “green corridor” to ensure the speedy transportation of the workers to the Chinyalisaur hospital. A makeshift medical center has also been set up at the entrance of the collapsed tunnel to provide first aid and emergency care.
While the helicopter is available, it will not be flown during the night. Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd.), a member of the National Disaster Management Authority, stated that the last time to fly the Chinook is 4:30 pm, and due to the delay in the rescue process, the workers will be transported the next morning. However, in case of urgent situations, one or two ambulances can be sent at night.
A 30-bed facility has been prepared at the district hospital and a 10-bed facility nearby. The Chinook helicopter can fly at night, but the unfavorable weather conditions and the lack of urgency are the reasons for not flying it during the night.
As of Tuesday evening, only two meters separate the trapped workers from freedom. Rescue teams are clearing the final few meters of debris using the manual “rat-hole” mining technique. They are also laying two-feet wide pipes to create an escape route.
The rescue operation is being led by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and emergency medical personnel. The plan involves a single NDRF personnel crawling down a two-meter-wide pipe to assess the condition of the trapped workers and initiate their rescue. The workers will be brought out one by one on a specially-modified stretcher, and a temporary medical center has been set up to provide necessary medical attention before they are transported in the ambulances.
The Silkyara tunnel, located 30 km from Uttarkashi, is a crucial part of the Char Dham all-weather road project. The project has been controversial, but the current focus is on rescuing the trapped workers.
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