The rescue operation to save 41 workers who have been trapped inside a tunnel in Uttarakhand for the past 12 days is nearing its end. Rescue teams have reported that they are currently about 10 meters away from reaching the trapped workers. Here are the latest developments:
1. The rescue operation involves drilling through the debris to create a pathway for the workers to escape. The auger machine, which drills through about 3 meters of debris per hour, encountered a metal obstruction earlier, but it was removed and the operation resumed.
2. Pipes are being pushed through the debris as the auger machine drills. Once a pipe is fully inserted, another one is welded to it, creating an escape route for the trapped workers.
3. However, just bringing the workers out of the tunnel is not enough. They have been inside for 12 days with limited food and have experienced the psychological impact of confinement. The temperature difference between the tunnel and outside is also a concern.
4. Once the rescue pipe reaches the workers, a doctor from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will check their condition. The workers will be shown how to crawl through the pipes, which have sharp edges at the welding joints. Stretchers have also been arranged for those who need them.
5. The workers will be closely supervised by the NDRF as they walk through the pipe. Outside the tunnel, 41 ambulances are on standby to transport them to a makeshift hospital in Chinyalisour. They will undergo a detailed medical examination upon reaching the hospital.
6. So far, 44 pipes have been inserted after horizontal drilling, but steel rods in the debris have posed a challenge. The NDRF personnel will cut those rods to allow the machine to continue drilling.
7. The tunnel is part of the Char Dham project and is located between Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarakhand. It is intended to connect Uttarkashi and Yamunotri, and most of the construction work has been completed.
8. The workers became trapped in the tunnel on November 12 due to a landslide. The section they are stuck in is about 8.5 meters high and 2 kilometers long. Fortunately, there is electricity and water supply in that part of the tunnel.
9. The rescue operation has faced difficulties due to the challenging topography of the Himalayan region and the nature of the soil. These factors have led to frequent roadblocks and slow progress.
10. Due to these challenges, the rescue teams are unable to provide an exact timeline for the completion of the operation. However, if everything goes well, the workers may be brought out within the next few hours.
The situation is still developing, and further updates will be provided as the rescue operation progresses.
