Tunnel Collapse
By Arun Pratap Singh
Uttarkashi, 19 Nov: On day 8 of the landslide in the Silkyara tunnel in district Uttarkashi, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached the site to review the operation being carried to rescue 41 workers trapped inside the tunnel.
Gadkari and Dhami conducted onsite inspection of the ongoing relief and rescue work in the Silkyara Tunnel besides holding top level meetings with the experts present. Later, Gadkari briefed the media about the rescue operation and conceded that it is proving to be a major challenge, particularly in view of the rock structure and strata in the area. He said that hills are fragile and the operation has to be carried out keeping this fact in mind. He observed that for last 8 days, every possible effort is being made to rescue the victims. It is the priority of the Uttarakhand Government and the Government of India to get the trapped workers safely out as soon as possible. He revealed that he had held an hour-long meeting with the officers and experts working there. Now, the rescue teams are working on six alternative options and various agencies of the Government of India are also on the job. Special attention is also being given by the PMO to the problem. Tunnel experts and BRO officials have also been called to the site. He conceded that the incident was a disaster because of the typical Himalayan terrain which is quite fragile.
He said that, along with the horizontal drilling being carried out with the help of the American Auger Machines, work has also begun on other plans including vertical drilling. He said that the first priority is to provide food, medicine and oxygen to the trapped victims.
In response to a question, he responded that a detailed inquiry would be held. The state government has also ordered an inquiry into the incident but this would follow after the rescue operation. In response to another question, he conceded that on Friday the Auger machine had encountered a hard structure due to which the machine had to be halted. Now, however the work has resumed and the drilling to push through 900 mm diameter pipes is continuing. In addition, in place of the existing four-inch pipe which is being used to send dry food packets to the trapped workers, drilling is also being done to insert a six inch pipe through which normal food and other supplies can be supplied to the trapped workers till they are finally rescued.
In response to another question, Gadkari conceded that it may take another 48 hours to rescue the workers in case the Auger machine or the standby auger machines continue to function well. He also added that spares of the auger machines have also been made available to the drilling team to ensue continuous operation. This is in addition to five other options, which include vertical drilling from the top of the hill for which a passage has already been constructed so that the drilling machine can be taken there.
A tunnel expert from Australia, Chris Cooper, has also arrived at the site to provide inputs on the rescue mission. A special machine has been ordered from Holland for the vertical drilling but it may take another two days to arrive. In addition, work has also begun to construct an escape tunnel on both sides of the tunnel wall. Gadkari also mentioned that the six inches wide “lifeline” pipe to supply essential items including cooked food has been laid up to a distance of 42 metres and soon will reach the workers. This will bring much relief to the trapped workers and to add to their life support.
Chief Secretary SS Sandhu was also present at the site along with Secretary, Disaster Management, Dr Ranjit Kumar Sinha, who also briefed the media in the evening. Sinha said that now the help of robotic tools will also be taken in the rescue operation. Problems are being faced due to the use of machines in the tunnel. He conceded that the rescue is being hampered due to continuous falling of debris. He said that 900 mm diameter pipes are being pushed to rescue trapped workers and after some hurdles, there is fresh progress in the drilling.
It may be noted that since the morning of 12 November, 41 labourers are trapped in the under construction Silkyara Tunnel of Uttarkashi, when a portion of the tunnel caved in due to landslide. The rescue operation is being conducted to bring them out safely. Today is the eighth day after the accident. At the same time, in view of the Silkyara Tunnel accident, preparations are also being made to deploy an army company at Chinyalisaur Airport. This information has been provided by Colonel Deepak Patil, who is commanding the relief and rescue work in the Silkyara Tunnel accident.
Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Government has appointed Secretary Neeraj Khairwal as the nodal officer to coordinate with the different agencies at work and the central teams. Khairwal has been instructed to coordinate with many central institutions working in the state and to monitor the work being done. He will also give support and suggestions to the central institutions on behalf of the state as per the requirement.
A temporary passage has been prepared for drilling over the Silkyara tunnel. Drilling will be done from the top and right side of the tunnel to reach the workers trapped in the tunnel. Regarding the network problem in Silkyara, the Disaster Management Department has corresponded with BSNL and a private sector company to establish small cell network internet. District Disaster Management Officer Devendra Patwal said that a private company will install towers for small cell network in Silkyara. BTS micro towers will also be installed by BSNL.
According to Director of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), Anshu Manish Khalkho, after the scientific survey conducted for drilling from above, drilling will be done in an area of about 103 metres width. At the same time, Executive Director of the Corporation, Sandeep Sugera stated that, along with vertical drilling from the top of the tunnel, there is also a plan to drill from the side also. It has a width of 103 meters at the top and a distance of 177 meters for drilling from the side. Food and water will be supplied to the workers by drilling from above. Four locations have been identified for vertical drilling, the work of building tracks to reach there has been entrusted to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). With the help of foreign experts, six teams from the Centre and the State have started working on the other options from Sunday.
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 19 Nov: It was reported that collapse occurred in under construction tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot due to muck fallen in 60-meter stretch in Silkyara side of tunnel. After the incident, the State Government, and the Government of India mobilised resources immediately for rescue of the 41 trapped labourers. It was decided to lay a 900 mm pipe through the muck as it was the best and fastest possible solution as per the experts’ advice. However, on 17 November, because of ground movement it became unsafe to continue with this option without securing the structure. Considering the lives involved, it was decided to move on all possible fronts together so that the workers can be rescued as early as possible. Five options were decided and five different agencies were detailed to carry out these options.
The Government is keeping constant communication and making all efforts to keep up the morale of the labourers trapped in the 2 km built tunnel portion. In this 2 km portion concreting work has been done providing safety to the labourers. Electricity and water are available in this portion of the tunnel and labourers are provided food items such as channa, murmure, dryfruits and medicines, etc., through 4-inch compressor pipeline. NHIDCL is creating another 6-inch pipeline for food and drilling of 39 mtr out of 60 meter is completed. RVNL has started working on another vertical pipeline for supply for essential items. BRO has completed approach road in just one day for facilitating RVNL.
NHIDCL will continue to drill from Silkyara end after working safety arrangements. To facilitate this Army has prepared the box culvert. A canopy framework is being made. Work of pipeline laying will recommence tomorrow. Further, Tehri Hydroelectric Development Corporation (THDC) shall start work of micro tunnelling from Barkot end for which heavy machinery has been mobilised. THDC shall start the operation tonight itself. Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) will do the vertical drilling to rescue the trapped labourers. Accordingly, equipment has been mobilized from Gujarat and Odisha through Railways as being 75-ton equipment it could not be airlifted. ONGC has also started the initial work for vertical drilling from Barkot end. BRO has already started approach road for mobilisation machines of ONGC and SJVNL.
The government is committed to rescue all the labourers safely.
