Uttarkashi Tunnel Accident: Rescue operations delayed as auger machine breaks down.

It may take some more time to rescue the workers trapped in the tunnel in Silkyara, Uttarkashi in Uttarakhand.

Difficulties are emerging one after another in the way of evacuating the workers. After the auger machine got stuck again, manual drilling is now being planned. The international expert expressed hope that the workers would leave by Christmas.

The drilling work was disrupted for almost the entire day on Friday. However, the seriousness of the problem became known on Saturday when international expert on tunneling Arnold Dix told the media that the auger machine had 'broken down'.

Experts say that the auger machine is facing difficulties, so they are rethinking some other options. On the 14th day of the rescue operation, officials focused on two options - hand drilling in the remaining 10 or 12 meters of debris or drilling 86 meters below the top.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) member Lieutenant General (retired) Syed Ata Hasnain told journalists that this rescue operation may take a long time. Under 'manual drilling', the workers will enter the 47-meter portion of the rescue route dug so far and will do 'drilling' at a limited place for a short period and after coming out, someone else will start doing this work.

According to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, this (work) can start as soon as the equipment stuck in the designated evacuation route is brought out.

So far, a horizontal path of 46.9 meters has been made in the debris. The length of the collapsed part of the tunnel is about 60 meters. About 20 parts of the blade have been cut off and a plasma cutter is being airlifted from Hyderabad to complete the remaining work. He said that when this happens 'manual drilling' will start.

This incident of disruption of work due to auger machine has increased the concern of the families of the trapped workers. Family members staying near the disaster site often talk to the workers through the communication system set up by rescue workers.

Food, medicines and other essential items are being sent to the workers through six-inch wide pipes.