Efforts to rescue 40 workers trapped in an under-construction tunnel in Silkyara, Uttarakhand continued even on the fifth day.
India has reached out to the Thai company that successfully rescued children from a flooded cave in 2018. The state government's department of public relations announced that officials have reached out to the Thai company involved in the dramatic rescue of 12 boys and their coach trapped for over two weeks in the Tham Luang cave complex.
Authorities have also asked assistance from engineering experts specialising in soil and rock mechanics at the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, entering the fourth day of the operation.
Photo: Hindustan Times
A 24-ton advanced auger drilling machine is speeding up debris removal at 5 mm per hour. Excavators have been hard at work since Sunday morning, ensuring a clear escape tunnel for all the confirmed to be alive workers.
The state-of-the-art drilling machine, transported in three consignments by an Indian Air Force Hercules aircraft from Delhi to Chinyalisaur helipad, covers a distance of about 35 kilometres to reach the tunnel. Considering the fragile mountainous terrain, experts from Norway and Thailand are aiding the operation.
Engineers are employing heavy machinery to drive a 9000 mm wide steel pipe through the debris, providing a passage wide enough for the trapped men to escape.
On Wednesday, rescuers reported sending medicine to the 40 men trapped in the collapsed road tunnel they were building since Sunday. Police officer Prashant Kumar, in communication from the site, mentioned, "After consultation with doctors, medicine has been sent to the workers through pipes," adding that contact is being maintained with the workers.
Despite maintaining Continuous communication to monitor the mental health of the trapped workers during the rescue operation. No details were disclosed about the men's condition or the number of those who might be unwell.
Additionally, food and oxygen were dispatched to the trapped workers. However, during the removal of rubble, more fell from the tunnel's broken roof, resulting in injuries to two labourers overnight Tuesday, according to Kumar.
Protests erupted outside the tunnel, with colleagues of the trapped workers blaming authorities for "slow rescue work," as reported by one of the protesters to AFP.
While acknowledging that the drilling pace was slow due to natural causes, Uttarakhand state police chief Ashok Kumar emphasised the efforts being made on a "war footing" in a statement on Wednesday. A second drilling machine was flown in by the air force on a C-130 Hercules military plane to expedite rescue work after the first one broke down.
Photo: NDTV
Government rescue teams' photos depicted vast piles of rubble obstructing the tunnel, with twisted metal bars and concrete slabs visible. Despite the challenges, Ashok Kumar urged patience and trust in the rescue efforts, expressing confidence in rescuing all the labourers.
Union Minister General (retd) VK Singh arrived at the tunnel, expressing optimism about the ongoing rescue operations. He interacted with the workers, assuring them of government efforts and international collaboration. The goal is to complete the operation within two to three days, prioritising the safety of the workers.
The collapsed section, part of the Char Dham all-weather road project, occurred due to a landslide, impacting a 30 metre section located 270 metres from the tunnel's Silkyara side.
The 4.5-kilometer tunnel, intended to connect Uttarkashi and Yamunotri, two holy Hindu shrines, was part of the construction between the towns of Silkyara and Dandalgaon.
The tunnel is a component of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's road project, designed to enhance travel conditions between prominent Hindu shrines and areas bordering China. However, experts have cautioned about the consequences of extensive construction in Uttarakhand, a region prone to landslides in large parts of the state. India frequently experiences accidents on significant infrastructure projects.
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