By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 17 Nov: The rescue of the 40 workers trapped in Silkyara Tunnel along the Yamunotri Highway in district Uttarkashi is proving to be a bigger challenge than anticipated earlier. Today was the sixth day since the landslide occurred inside the tunnel in which 40 workers got trapped. Although the rescue operation began within hours of the accident, the rescue teams have been unable to reach the workers. Now, a major challenge has come in the form of a technical snag in the American Auger Drilling machine which was being used to drill and push 900 mm diameter pipes to reach the workers. The fresh technical snag in the 25 ton auger machine has halted the drilling process. As per sources, the machine is unable to move forward. It is believed that the bearings of the machine have got damaged.
So far ,4 pipes of a total length of 24 metres have been drilled and pushed through the debris. A further distance of 36 metres is yet to be covered. As an alternative, the machine is now being installed on the platform with anchoring. In addition, a new Auger machine has been sought from Indore and is learnt to be on the way to Chinyalisaur from where it will be taken to Silkyarya to continue the drilling.
So far, four pipes have been inserted by drilling 24 meters into the debris. All these pipes have been welded to each other and the fifth pipe was being welded to be pushed through the debris when the technical snag in the auger machine developed. Some bearings of the machine have given up, thus halting the drilling process, even as the patience of the workers trapped inside the tunnel is wearing thin. Yet another machine has been ordered from Indore as a backup, in case the second machine from Indore also gets damaged.
Along with the teams of central institutions, institutions of Uttarakhand government are also involved in the rescue. Food, oxygen and electricity is being made available to the workers trapped in the tunnel.
It is reported that, while drilling the fourth pipe, a big boulder came in the way of the machine which led to damage to the bearings. The boulder has been removed, claim the rescue teams.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is continuously monitoring the ongoing operation.
Speaking to the media persons at the Secretariat, today, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dham affirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is constantly being updated on the progress of the campaign. In response to a question regarding negligence in the tunnel’s construction, he said that at present the first priority for the government is to get the 40 workers out safely. All inquiries and actions will follow later.
Many relatives of the 40 labourers trapped in the tunnel are present at the site. Teams of the administration and family members are continuously communicating with the workers. At the same time, the workers are also encouraging each other.
