Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: Rescue Op Halted Again As Auger Machine Encounters Another Hurdle | Updates

The rescue operations in Uttarkashi’s Silkyara tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand were halted again on Friday after the auger machine encountered another glitch. Rescuers say trapped workers are unlikely to come out tonight.

Experts on the site are analysing the debris and trying to figure out if they can push through it or if it can be cut manually.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday took stock rescue operation in the Silkyara tunnel collapse site in Uttarkashi and directed the officials that the last phase of the rescue operation should be conducted at a fast pace and with complete caution.

The machine, so far, has drilled till the 46.8-metre point and is now at a pause while being just a few metres away from reaching the complete end of the 57-metre debris. Reports suggest that the platform on which the auger machine was mounted developed some cracks, which brought a pause to the ops.

International Tunneling Expert Arnold Dix, however, did not expand on the nature of the “difficulties” faced by the machine but was optimistic about resuming the rescue operations soon. He also warned against rushing things as it might ‘complicate’ the ops.

Union Minister General VK Singh (Rtd) has gone inside the Silkyara tunnel to oversee the ongoing rescue efforts to safely evacuate the workers trapped inside the partially collapsed tunnel since November 12.

LATEST UPDATES

1. Rescue operations halted once again on Friday evening after the auger machine encountered an error. Experts are analysing if debris can be cut manually.
2. NHIDCL MD Mahmood Ahmed has said that the wielding of the new pipe has started and it takes two hours for that process to be completed. “We hope that we have to face no more problems,” Ahmed said. He also said that a member of their special team — PARSON — went inside the pipe to check the snag and they have tried to navigate through the debris. Ahmed added that the team’s prediction is that there is no continuous metal object now.
3. Former advisor to PMO, Bhaskar Khulbe has said that the drilling will begin after 45 minutes. “There have been no issues, it takes time to collect all the equipment… All the metal has been taken out… We are to rescue them by evening.”
4. The reassembling of the American auger machine has been completed and now the ninth pipe is being wielded.
5. Union Minister General VK Singh (Rtd) has entered the collapsed tunnel to oversee the rescue operations ongoing at the site to bring out the 41 trapped workers safely.
6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi again called Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and took updates on the rescue operation. According to Uttarakhand DIPR, the prime minister also inquired about the condition of trapped workers, along with the food and necessary supplies being provided to them. Additionally, PM Modi also asked about the safety conditions of the rescue personnel.
7. The platform for the auger machine has been strengthened using an accelerating agent for rapid hardening of concrete. The welding team has gone inside the pipe for cutting the bent pipe and the cutting process is underway. Thereafter, the auger machine would be reassembled.
8. Former advisor to PMO, Bhaskar Khulbe has said that rescuers are hoping to resume the drilling by 11-11:30 am.
9. Union Minister General VK Singh (Rtd) has reached the Silkyara tunnel site to take stock of the efforts to rescue the 41 trapped workers.
10. Former advisor to the prime minister, Bhaskar Khulbe has said that the situation is better now. Of the two issues faced by the rescuers, “First, we had to revamp the platform of the machine… Parsons Company had done the ground penetration radar, through which we got to know for the next five metres, there is no metallic obstruction,” Khulbe said adding that “this means our drilling should be smooth.”
11. Drone technology has been brought in to monitor rescue efforts. Cyriac Joseph, MD & CEO, Squadrone Infra Mining Pvt Ltd said that the drone is one of the “latest technologies which can go inside the tunnel, it goes into GPS denied area and we can access if there is any convergence,” Joseph was quoted as saying by ANI.
12. Operations remain halted on Friday morning after the Auger drilling machine hit a technical snag late on Thursday. So far, the machine has drilled up to 46.8 metres of the 57-metre debris in the Silkyara Tunnel.
13. International Tunnel Expert Arnold Dix had said, “We are only just metres away from finding passage to have the men back. But the men are safe. The auger machine has broken down, it is being repaired and it should be back up tomorrow. The drilling machine has broken down three times…”
14. Dix also warned against rushing the ops saying “Since the trapped workers on the other side of the rubble are safe and fit, not rushing has enormous value because if we rush in a situation like this we might create problems we cannot imagine.”
15. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had decided to stay overnight in Uttarkashi on Thursday night to monitor the rescue operations. He had set up his temporary camp office there so that his daily work didn’t face any difficulties.
16. An official statement also announced that on Thursday, the Egas festival — celebrated with great joy in Uttarakhand — will also not be celebrated on a grand scale. CM Dhami chose to mark the celebrations with a simple worship of the cow.
17. Meanwhile, Dr Jugal Kishore, Community Medicine, at Safdarjung Hospital, said that such a situation will lead the workers to face challenges both mentally and physically. “…by not getting food and water for a long time, electrolyte imbalance can happen and there could be chances of dehydration… due to cloud of mind, they might not be able to do any decision making… their body muscles might have become very weak so it will be difficult for them to walk and move.”
18. National Disaster Management Authority, Lt General (Rtd) Syed Ata Hasnain noted that no such specific timelines should be assumed by anyone as this rescue operation is like a “war” where ‘Himalayan geology’ is the enemy.
19. Hasnain also said, “This is challenging work. To keep expecting that rescue will be done in the next two hours puts pressure on the workforce. This is wrong. In this situation, both the trapped workers and the rescue team are at risk. We have to cater for the safety of both.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)