In a race against time, rescue teams in Uttarakhand are tirelessly working to save 40 workers who have been trapped for over 48 hours following a tunnel collapse on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway. The incident occurred early Sunday morning, causing rocks and debris to cover a 200-meter area, impeding the progress of rescue efforts.
Despite non-stop efforts by the rescue teams, only 21 meters of the slab blocking the tunnel have been removed, leaving a critical 19 meters to be cleared. In a strategic move, authorities are planning to utilize a 900 mm diameter pipe to create a passage wide enough for the trapped workers to navigate through. An auger machine is being positioned on a specially prepared platform to drill horizontally and push the pipes through the debris, facilitating the evacuation process.
All necessary materials and machinery for this daring operation have been mobilized to the site, with experts from the irrigation department lending their expertise to the rescue mission. Videos from the scene depict a challenging environment, with massive piles of concrete and twisted metal bars complicating the rescue efforts.
The 4.5-kilometer tunnel, part of the Chardham project, aims to connect Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi, ultimately reducing the distance by 26 kilometers once completed. The initial assessment suggests that a landslide triggered the collapse, though investigations are ongoing to determine the precise cause.
Remarkably, the trapped workers, located in a buffer zone, remain unharmed. Food and oxygen are being supplied to them through water pipelines, providing a crucial lifeline. A disaster response official revealed, “They have a buffer of around 400 meters to walk and breathe.” Communication with the workers has been established using Walkie-Talkies, initially initiated through a note on a scrap of paper and later through radio handsets.
As the rescue teams persevere, the situation remains critical. The collaborative efforts of the diverse team of experts give hope that the innovative use of the 900 mm pipe drill will pave the way for the safe evacuation of the trapped workers in Uttarakhand’s challenging tunnel collapse.
Sources By Agencies
