Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation going on for 144 hours

The workers trapped inside the tunnel collapse in Uttarkashi could not be taken out even after six days as NDRF-SDRF teams continued their efforts to bring out the labourers safely on the seventh day.

As many as 40 laborers were trapped in Silkyara tunnel of Uttarakhand when a portion of the under construction tunnel collapsed on Sunday.

The rescue operation suffered a major setback when the American auger machine broke down midway. Due to damage to the machine, it could not move forward.

The American auger machine was repeatedly rising upwards, after which the machine was placed on the platform by placing anchors. This has dealt a big blow to the rescue operation.

After drilling about 25 meters, the machine struck some metallic object below following which the rescue operation was stopped after 2:45 pm on Friday.

Under the Chardham Project, this tunnel is being built between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on Brahmakhal and Yamunotri National Highway.

A portion of the 4.5 kilometer long tunnel collapsed in the early hours of 12 November. Due to this the workers got trapped inside. The workers trapped in the tunnel are from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) Director Anshu Manish Khalko said, "An attempt is being made to cut the metal part using a gas cutter. The drilling work has been stopped for now."

Khalkho said that another machine is being airlifted from Indore. This machine will reach the site on Saturday morning. He said, "Putting pipes in the debris takes more time than drilling holes. It is also important to ensure that there are no cracks in these pipes."

According to experts, it is estimated that if a 60 meter tunnel has sunk, the debris would have spread over the same number of metres. It is also suspected that the wet debris may have spread over an area of more than 60 meters inside the tunnel. In such a situation, there may be further problems in the rescue operation.

PMO, Home Ministry and Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami are keeping an eye on the rescue operation to rescue 40 laborers trapped in the tunnel. A 6-member committee of the Uttarakhand government has started its investigation.