Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: 3-foot-wide pipes in rescue plan for 40 trapped men

• Image Credit: Google

• Nov 14, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Rescue teams are intensifying their efforts to extricate 40 workers trapped inside the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarkashi...

Digital Desk: Rescue teams are intensifying their efforts to extricate 40 workers trapped inside the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. The rescue operation, now in its third day, reached a critical phase on Tuesday as trucks loaded with 900 mm pipes and an augur machine, a drilling tool, arrived at the tunnel site.

The objective is to create a passage for the trapped workers by installing the pipes through the debris. A platform is being meticulously prepared for the augur machine to drill horizontally, allowing the pipes to be pushed through and facilitating the evacuation process. The 900 mm pipes are deemed wide enough for the trapped workers to navigate through.

All necessary machinery and equipment, including heavy excavators and ROC machines, have been deployed to the site. Officials from the irrigation department joined the rescue efforts on Monday night to expedite the operation.

Uttarkashi's senior police officer, Arpan Yaduvanshi, expressed optimism, stating that more than 20 meters of the 60 meters of debris have been cleared. "We expect to evacuate the 40 people trapped inside by the evening of Tuesday," he said.

To address immediate needs, a machine is being used to send essential items such as food and water to the trapped workers. Authorities are leaving no stone unturned in their mission to ensure the safety and well-being of those trapped inside the tunnel.

Senior police officer Prashant Kumar assured the public that all workers inside the tunnel are safe. Family members of some workers reached the site to offer support.

The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reported on Tuesday that rescuers have communicated with the trapped workers through radio. Ranjit Kumar Sinha, a senior disaster management official, indicated that there is sufficient oxygen in the tunnel section, providing the trapped individuals with a survival window of "about five to six days."

The incident occurred when a section of the under-construction tunnel, located between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway, collapsed on Sunday morning. The tunnel, with a total length of 4.5 km, has 2,340 meters constructed from Silkyara's end and 1,750 meters from Dandalgaon's side. A stretch of 441 meters between the two sides is yet to be constructed. The collapse originated from Silkyara's side, approximately 200 meters from the entrance, according to officials. The situation remains critical, and the rescue teams are working diligently to ensure the safe extraction of the trapped workers.