Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: Drilling platform develops cracks, rescue work of 41 trapped on hold again

Boring through the rubble of the collapsed Silkyara tunnel was put on hold again Thursday apparently after cracks appeared in the platform on which the drilling machine rests, in a fresh hurdle to the rescue of 41 workers trapped inside for 11 days.

Exclusive visuals which explain why rescue inside the tunnel is difficult and challenging. Machine’s Bolt is fixed by ROC machine inside the tunnel now.

Till now 48 meters pipe was inserted into the collapsed tunnel. The next 24 hours is crucial.

Drilling through the rubble of the collapsed Silkyara tunnel was put on hold again Thursday after the platform on which the equipment is mounted developed some cracks, in yet another setback to the effort to rescue the 41 workers trapped inside. The rescue workers will “stabilise” the platform on which the 25-tonne auger machine is mounted before drilling is resumed, officials said.

Till now 48 meters pipe entered into the collapsed tunnel. Machine malfunction going to be addressed and analysed by agencies of experts.

International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix said, "The vertical drilling is all prepared, as in all the sites prepared, the access roads prepared, everything's prepared, and decisions being taken shortly about what to do with the vertical drilling. But all of the different access routes, they affect each other. So while we're doing Augering, we have to be very careful and that includes being careful about vertical drilling. So we're ready for vertical drilling. It's just a question of when the decision is made whether to do it or not to do it..."

More trouble mounted for rescuers as the platform on which the auger machine was operating destabilized. The work was being done to stabilize the platform. The depth of the drill still remained at 46.8 m.  The stabilization process will happen at late night and then the drilling operations are likely to resume.

Rescue operations to evacuate 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel resumed on Thursday after an overnight hurdle delayed the drilling by several hours. Officials were looking at the possibility of the operation ending during the night – provided no more obstacles emerged as an auger machine drilled through the rubble of the collapsed stretch of the tunnel.

Member of the National Disaster Management Authority, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain said, "We hope to get success in this operation in the next few hours, or by tomorrow..."

NDMA has said that 41 ambulances have been stationed at collapsed Silkyara tunnel site in Uttarkashi.

Locals established a Baba Loknath temple at the rescue site amid massive operations to rescue trapped 41 workers.

The NDMA officials said 41 ambulances are stationed at the collapsed tunnel site at Silkyara in Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to Gabbar Singh Negi and Saba Ahmed, the workers trapped in the tunnel under construction in Silkyara, Uttarkashi, to inquire about their well-being and also informed them about the rescue operation going on at a fast pace to get them out safely.

Project Manager, Operation 108 Ambulance, Mukesh Nautiyal said, "A total of 31 ambulances are here. Out of 31 ambulances, 7 are ALS, while others are BLS. ALS stands for advanced life support, and BLS is basic life support. 27 ambulances are here, and there are 5 ambulances near the tunnel... All the ambulances are well equipped, it's like a mini emergency... There are 41 ambulances where 31 ambulances are of '108' while the other 10 have been provided by the administration."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on the phone and sought information about the ongoing rescue operation. "Respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi called today and took information about the ongoing rescue operation of the workers trapped at Silkyara tunnel, Uttarkashi," CM Dhami posted on X. 

Former advisor to the Prime Minister's Office Bhaskar Khulbe said that rescuers will take 12 to 14 hours more to complete drilling and reach workers. "I am happy to tell you the entire steel that was obstructing the free movement of the pipe inside has now been removed. We are trying to move 6 metres ahead of the 45-metre mark that we have already reached. During drilling last night, an iron metal had come in, due to which the work was stopped. We hope that there will be no more obstructions in our way ahead..." he added. 

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami reached the Silkyara tunnel site. Speaking to the media, he said that 45 metres of the pipeline has been laid through auger machine. "The rescue is at its final stages. There are some obstacles,. but I hope that the workers are rescued as early as possible. Post-rescue preparations have been done. Ambulances and Hospitals are ready for their check-up and treatment. PM Modi is taking updates on the rescue every single day. He took the update today as well. Our experts are working day and night to rescue the workers..." he added. 

Union Minister General VK Singh (Retd) reached the Silkyara tunnel site where the rescue operation is underway. Chief Scientist and tunnel expert from Roorkee, RD Dwivedi also reached the tunnel site.

Speaking to the news agency ANI, Uttarkashi SP Arpan Yaduvanshi said that the post-rescue action plan is ready to take the workers to the hospital. "Our post-rescue action plan is ready. We will take the workers through the green corridor with a police escort and make sure that the best possible treatment is being provided to them. I think they will be taken to Chinyalisaur and then if necessary to Rishikesh. Some VIP movements are going to take place," he added. 

International tunneling expert, Arnold Dix reached the tunnel site in the morning. "At the moment, it's like we are there at the front door and we are knocking on it. We know that the guys are there on the other side. I am going to have a look and see what is happening..." he told the media. 

Uttarkashi DM Abhishek Ruhela said that the rescue team has covered the majority of the distance and there is little work left. "Our teams are continuously trying to overcome the technical problems that we are facing. We are taking advice from experts and skilled persons, some of whom are also called to the spot. It is not possible to say when will the rescue end but the work is continuously going on and it is being monitored by the state and the central govt. We are getting all the possible help from the Govt of India..." he added. 

A batch of rescuers was seen carrying ropes and other equipment to enter the tunnel. The last pipe to prepare the escape passage for the trapped workers was being pushed in through the rubble, an electrician working at the site. As the machine drills through, six-metre sections of steel pipes, just under a metre wide, are pushed into the escape passage. Once the pipeway reaches the other end, the trapped workers are expected to crawl out.

Relatives of workers stuck inside the collapsed tunnel expressed hope that the effort to rescue all the workers would conclude today. "Hope they will be out today. We will celebrate our Diwali, Chhath only after they are rescued safely," said one of the relatives of a worker. 

Former advisor to the Prime Minister's Office, Bhaskar Khulbe reached the Silkyara tunnel site. Uttarakhand CMO said that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is present in Uttarkashi. 

Rescue operations at the tunnel entered their final stretch with the last pipe to prepare an escape passage for the trapped workers being pushed in through the rubble. Meanwhile, prayers are being offered at a temple that has been built at the main entrance of the tunnel where rescue operations are underway. 

Amid the ongoing rescue operation, medical equipment reached the Silkyara tunnel. The central government said that ONGC is mobilizing machinery from the USA, Mumbai, and Ghaziabad for vertical boring.

Ambulances are on standby and a special ward at a local health centre is kept ready as a multi-agency effort to rescue the trapped workers. Uttarakhand Chief Minister's office said that an ambulance is also deployed inside the tunnel and a team of doctors is also put on stand-by for health check-ups of the workers.

(Reported by Manish Prasad)

Latest visuals have surfaced from the site where the rescue operation is underway to rescue the trapped workers. The rescue operation has been ongoing for the past 12 days.

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat said that it's the state's responsibility to save the trapped workers in the tunnel. "Workers came to Uttarakhand to develop the region; it is our responsibility to save them," he told to news agency PTI. 

Uttarkashi District Magistrate (DM) Abhishek Ruhela has arrived at the site where efforts are underway to rescue trapped workers. The area of entrapment, measuring 8.5 meters in height and 2 kilometres in length, is the built-up portion of the tunnel, offering safety to the labourers with available electricity and water supply. 

Stating that rescue efforts have entered the final stages at the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, a senior officer said they will reach the 41 trapped workers by today morning. "Rescue operation is almost in the last stage, I hope the result will come in 1-2 hours...pipeline is being inserted to take out the workers...the steel pieces that were stuck in the debris were cut and removed," Girish Singh Rawat, one of the members of the rescue operation team said.

Late night visuals have surfaced from the tunnel collapse site where the rescue operation is underway to rescue the 41 trapped workers. The work of laying a 12-meter pipeline is still left at the Silkyara tunnel, said Colonel Deepak Patil who is leading the rescue efforts of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).