Amid a race against time in the Uttarakhand tunnel tragedy, the rescue operation for 41 workers trapped for 15 days faces new hurdles. The monumental efforts to extract them from the collapsed Silkyara tunnel hit a setback as the blades of the auger machine, crucial for the rescue, became entangled in debris. This unfortunate incident resulted in damage to the heavy drill brought in from America, compelling officials to resort to hand-held power tools for the final stretch of nearly 10-15 meters.
The Indian Army, renowned for its expertise in such exigencies, has now taken charge of the challenging rescue mission. Their strategy includes manual drilling, a meticulous process requiring workers to enter the pre-bored passage, drill within the confined space, and rotate shifts to continue the painstaking task. A unit of Madras Sappers, an esteemed engineer group of the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army, has arrived at the disaster site to bolster the rescue efforts.
However, optimism amid the adversity prevails as Mahmood Ahmed, managing director of National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, shared a potential timeline. He expressed that, barring major impediments, employing the vertical drilling method might take an estimated four days to reach the trapped workers.
The situation remains precarious for the 41 men, who have endured over 360 hours underground. Despite assurances of adequate provisions for light, oxygen, sustenance, and medical care, uncertainties loom over the rescue timeline. Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain of the National Disaster Management Authority advised patience, emphasizing the unpredictability inherent in mountainous rescue operations.
Promises made by international tunnelling expert Arnold Dix, assuring the workers’ liberation “by Christmas,” echoed hope. However, as days pass and challenges persist, the timeline remains fluid, mirroring the complexity of the operation.
Efforts on the ground intensify, with ongoing vertical drilling and imminent manual drilling endeavors. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami confirmed the dispatch of a plasma cutter from Hyderabad to dislodge the stuck rotary blades, marking a critical step toward advancing the rescue.
Simultaneously, preparations for the workers’ well-being during manual drilling gain traction, including setting up communication lines for them to stay connected with their families. Additionally, medical provisions, including 41 ambulances on standby and an oxygen-equipped ward, stand ready at the tunnel’s entrance.
Situated around 30 kilometers from Uttarkashi, the Silkyara tunnel holds significance as part of the central government’s Char Dham all-weather road project, further underscoring the urgency of the ongoing rescue mission.
As the Indian Army steps into the forefront of the rescue, the challenges ahead underscore the uncertainty surrounding the workers’ awaited liberation from the dark depths of the Uttarakhand tunnel.
Sources By Agencies
