In a challenging operation to rescue 41 labourers trapped for over a week inside a tunnel in Uttarakhand, the Centre has devised a multi-pronged action plan involving five different agencies. Struggling against time and treacherous terrain, authorities are pursuing alternative strategies as initial efforts to access the workers remain thwarted.
The Centre’s intricate five-option plan encompasses drilling from three directions to breach the impasse, marking a pivotal shift from earlier failed attempts. Horizontal tunnels from both the right and left sides of the main tunnel, coupled with a vertical shaft from the top, constitute the new approach to reach the workers confined within a 400-meter stretch of the incomplete tunnel since November 12.
Challenges abound, with the rugged landscape posing a formidable obstacle. Creating space for multiple drilling machines amidst the hilly terrain and constructing motorable roads have emerged as time-consuming hurdles. Despite the complexities, efforts to facilitate the operations have commenced, including the construction of roads and ramps necessary for the transportation of heavier machinery.
A pivotal development unfolded as a wider pipe was brought in and installed, offering a breakthrough in the rescue efforts. The expanded conduit now allows rescuers to deliver a more diverse array of sustenance and medication to the trapped workers, replacing the previous limitation to dry fruits with the potential to provide heartier meals.
Today marked the arrival of an international team of tunnelling experts, led by Arnold Dix, President of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association. Additionally, a robotics team from the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has reached the site, infusing the operation with specialized expertise and advanced technology.
Amidst the ongoing efforts, setbacks have hindered progress. Attempts to cut through the 40-meter rock wall repeatedly faltered, exacerbating the situation by triggering additional rockfalls and extending the wall’s depth from 40 to over 70 meters. Equipment malfunctions further stalled operations, with a recent rockfall occurring during the utilization of an American Auger drill flown in from Delhi after the breakdown of the prior machine.
Initially, plans centered on carving through the rock wall and inserting a three-feet-wide evacuation pipe. However, the persistence of rockfalls prompted authorities to pivot toward a radically different approach, necessitating the current multi-directional drilling strategy.
The catastrophic incident on November 12 saw a section of the 4.5-kilometer tunnel on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway collapse, ensnaring 41 workers. This tunnel, a pivotal part of the Char Dham project aiming to connect Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi, has become the epicenter of a complex and grueling rescue mission.
As the intricate operation unfolds, hopes and efforts remain pinned on the success of this innovative rescue approach, while the clock ticks relentlessly for the trapped workers awaiting salvation within the labyrinthine depths of the Uttarakhand tunnel.
Sources By Agencies
