Rescue operations to free the 41 workers trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district have recommenced after a brief pause since November 17. Late Tuesday night saw the initiation of drilling work, marking a crucial step in the ongoing efforts.
The trapped workers, stuck since November 12, are the focus of a multi-pronged rescue strategy. The rescue team has established a vertical drilling platform by cutting into the mountain above the tunnel, and work is underway to construct a micro tunnel perpendicular to the existing one from the left side of the tunnel mouth. This complex process is expected to take a considerable amount of time, according to reports by India Today.
The Uttarakhand government has devised a comprehensive five-option plan for the rescue mission. Five different agencies, namely Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Sutluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDCL), have been assigned specific responsibilities, as detailed by Road, Transport, and Highways Secretary Anurag Jain. Activities include the construction of an evacuation tunnel, vertical pipelines, and microtunnelling.
Challenges persist in the rescue operation due to the geological formations and the high-altitude location of the tunnel. Despite the difficulties, efforts continue, with agencies like NHIDCL and RVNL already engaged in constructing evacuation tunnels and vertical pipelines. ONGC, known for deep drilling expertise, has initiated preliminary work for vertical drilling.
In the midst of these efforts, the trapped workers received a meal night, delivered through a 6-inch pipeline used for communication and supplying essentials, providing a brief respite for those awaiting rescue.
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