Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Probe to conducted after workers are rescued, says CM Dhami

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: “This is a national effort. The first and the top most priority is the safety of the people stuck inside the tunnel. The rescue efforts are being monitored from the top level and we are getting all the support required,” says Sushma Rawat, Director – Exploration, ONGC on Uttarkashi tunnel rescue.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to television channels to refrain from sensationalizing the ongoing rescue operation underway at Silkyara, Uttarakhand and from undertaking any live posts/videos from close proximity of the tunnel site where the rescue operations are underway, and ensure that the human life saving activity by the various agencies is in no way disrupted or disturbed by the very presence of cameramen, reporters or equipment near or around the operations site.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: The insertion of a six-inch pipeline, through which communication was established with the trapped workers, is a major breakthrough and an encouraging sign, said Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: “Action will definitely be taken against all suspicions but right now the priority is for all workers to come out safely,” Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said.

“We’re fine here,” said one of the trapped workers.

Family members of workers stuck inside the Silkyara tunnel have interacted with them via a pipe inserted through the rubble.

International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix says, “Works are being done to get the new 6-inch lifeline pipe fully functioning. The works are being done for the augering of the evacuation tunnel, which is being drilled as well. The works are also being done to create safe places within the tunnel. This is still an extremely dangerous environment, so we’re making it safe for the rescuers in there as well. There are technical issues in there now but these issues will be there till the men are rescued. My next job is to go up on top of the mountain, to the side of the mountain, back of the mountain and check the progress there as well. The American auger machine is not working right now, it’s in preparation…Augering requires very precise engineering because if we get it wrong, it could cause an avalanche…”

Efforts to rescue trapped 41 workers in the ongoing Silkyara tunnel collapse received a brief setback when the piling machine being transported for the rescue operation got stuck due to the narrow road leading to the spot, ANI reported.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, “All agencies, engineers, technicians, and experts are working on it. With their hard work, food is now being sent through the six-inch pipeline. This is encouraging for us. We pray to God for the rescue operation to conclude at the earliest and for all our workers to come out safely. PM is collecting details every day and providing all possible help to us. I gave all the details to the PM today…”

International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association president Arnold Dix, who has been roped in as part of the ongoing rescue efforts at the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse site, on Tuesday said he was absolutely sure that the 41 trapped workers will come home soon.

Speaking to ANI, from the site of the tunnel Professor Dix said the rescuers have several options to bring home the workers.

“I think the team here have done a wonderful job. It’s just fantastic. The 900 pipeline is one of the options. The 900 pipe which is there, which I’ve seen, and I’m going to go have another look at this morning. It’s by far the best and fastest means to get the men, but it has its technical difficulties and that’s why we’re doing multiple rescue missions,” Dix told ANI.

On the tenth day of rescue operations at the Silkyara tunnel collapse site in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, a significant milestone was achieved after an endoscopic flexi camera was successfully inserted into the collapsed section.

Visuals from the special camera facilitated the first interaction with the trapped workers. The endoscopic camera is mainly used for minimally invasive medical procedures. Doctors use this to check interior organs for diagnosis and treatment. Here the rescue teams are using a flexi endoscopic camera. The flexible wire allows the device to move along the shape of the pipeline. (ANI)

International Tunnelling Expert, Arnold Dix said, “It’s fantastic, of course, the news we have had over the last few hours. It is great to see the faces of those men that we are going to bring home. We have food going to them now, we have communications to them now. You have seen this morning that we have multiple approaches to the rescue. It’s a good morning.”

“Vertical drilling will start once the site is prepared because for vertical drilling it is very important that it is done very accurately…I think the team here has done a wonderful job. It is fantastic…Two locations identified (for vertical drilling). We are going to rescue these men. 41 men are going to be coming home and no one is going to be hurt, that’s the mission,” he added. (ANI)

In a major breakthrough in the ongoing Silkyara tunnel collapse rescue team officials successfully developed communication with the trapped workers through the 6-inch pipeline on Tuesday morning.

The rescue team was seen clearly talking to the workers trapped in the tunnel through the pipeline. The rescue team requested the workers to come in front of the endoscopic flexi camera which was inserted through the pipeline. A worker took out the camera from the pipeline and held it inside the confined space so that everyone could be identified.

All the 41 trapped workers assembled near the camera and the rescue team asked them to clean the screen of the camera. The rescue team informed them that the pipeline would be cleaned with water and a blower so they asked them to keep back the camera and get away from the pipeline and the compressor. (ANI)

As the rescue operation in the ongoing Silkyara tunnel collapse entered Day 10, the first visuals of the trapped workers emerged on Tuesday morning. Rescue teams are involved in a relentless effort to establish contact with them. The endoscopic flexi camera has reached the trapped workers.

The trapped workers were smiling in the video and stable state of mind. The workers were provided with a walkie-talkie through a 6-inch pipeline so that they could communicate with the rescue team. The name of a trapped victim has been identified as Saba.

In the video, it was seen that the rescue team asked Saba to hold the walkie-talkie and identify the names of each trapped worker. The voice of the trapped worker was not clear but visuals showed that he was in good health condition. (ANI)

Visuals of workers trapped inside Uttarkashi’s Silkyara tunnel for the past 10 days emerged on Tuesday morning, has given new hope to worried relatives, some of whom are camping outside the site of the collapsed structure.

Earlier today, rescuers managed to insert an endoscopy camera into the tunnel and the first visuals captured showed the 41 workers had ample space had light inside the tunnel for them to move about. (ANI)

The first visuals of the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue in Uttarakhand have come up as the rescue team manages to establish contact with the people trapped for the first time.

The endoscopic flexi camera reached the trapped workers, ANI reported.

It was revealed on November 12 that a tunnel that was being built to connect Silkyara and Barkot had collapsed. It was revealed that 41 workmen had been trapped in the incident as a result of a muck falling in a 60-metre section on the Silkyara side of the tunnel. Read the story here.

A Member of the family of a worker trapped in the Silkyara tunnel said, “We are hopeful but I will be satisfied once I get to speak to him.”

The first visuals of the trapped workers emerged this morning as an endoscopic flexi camera reached them. (ANI)

Five government agencies, including ONGC, SJVNL, and RVNL, have been pushed into action to try different options to rescue the 40 trapped workers at Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, road, transport and highways secretary Anurag Jain said earlier on Sunday.

The government has decided to work on all fronts to save the lives of the labourers trapped in the tunnel at Silkyara, Jain said in a video brief. “In a high-level meeting today, various options were examined based on technical advice and 5 options are to be pursued,” he said.

The secretary said efforts were being made to insert more pipes in the area so that food, water, and essential supplies are maintained till space is created to rescue the trapped. Read the complete story here.

The vertical drilling machine from the upper part of the hill above the tunnel reached the Silkyara Tunnel.

The labourers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi from the day of Diwali have not been rescued yet. It has been more than eight days since 41 labourers were trapped in the tunnel, hence essential items like food and medicines are being supplied to the labourers through pipes inside the tunnel.

The medical team is also present all the time to keep an eye on the health of the workers trapped inside the tunnel.

But at the same time, it is important to know what could be the mental condition of the workers who have been stuck in a dark tunnel for the last several days. (ANI)

Assisting in the rescue operations underway to evacuate 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand, three aircraft of the Indian Air Force airlifted another 36 tonnes of critical equipment on Monday.

Taking to social media platform X, the IAF said that a C-17 and two C-130 J aircraft were employed. 

In a major breakthrough, rescue agencies installed a six-inch pipe inside the partially collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand through which authorities can provide food and medicines for 41 workers trapped for over a week following a landslide on November 12, reported PTI.

Anshu Mansish Khalkho, director, NHIDCL, told the media that rescue workers were able to communicate with the workers through the newly installed pipe.

“We have achieved our first breakthrough, for which we had been trying for the last nine days and was our first priority. A 6-inch pipe has been installed and they (trapped workers) can hear us through it. We will now provide them with food and medical supplies through that pipe,” he said. Read the complete story here.

In the ongoing mission to rescue the trapped workers in the tunnel, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Monday that they are working to swiftly evacuate all the workers with top priority on their safety.

“As part of the ongoing rescue operation to rescue workers trapped inside the tunnel under construction in Silkyara, Uttarkashi, a 6-inch-diameter pipeline has been successfully laid across the debris. Now through this, food items, medicines and other goods will be easily sent to the workers as per the requirement.” CM Dhami posted on X.