By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 22 Nov: The past 24 hours have seen good progress towards the rescue of the 41 workers trapped inside the under-construction tunnel in Silkyara along the Yamunotri Highway in district Uttarakashi. Till this evening, drilling had been completed up to 45 metres distance. Only about 14 metres of digging is stated to be left. Now, it is hoped that, unless there is no fresh hurdle, the drilling might be completed by late tonight or early tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has also gone to Uttarkashi where it is hoped he will witness the evacuation of the trapped workers.
Yesterday afternoon, it was decided more to focus on horizontal drilling, which was the original plan for rescue of the trapped workers even as work was also continuing simultaneously on five other options. The American Auger Drilling Machine, which had been digging the debris to push through 900 mm diameter pipes had developed a technical snag and, even after its repair, the drilling had remained halted for more than two days. However, with the success in drilling through a six inch diameter lifeline pipe of a total length of 62 metres for supplying food, water and medicines to the workers, and also in sending a flexi endoscopic camera, had given a fresh breakthrough to the rescue teams raising hopes for an early rescue through horizontal drilling.
The major focus was shifted to the original plan of horizontal drilling once again.
Sources claim that the horizontal drilling that was halted due to technical snag in the auger drill machine remained halted for over two days even after the machine was repaired because of two major reasons. One, something hard which was either a hard rock or a JCB machine had stopped the auger machine which failed initially to drill any further. The second reason was the falling of more debris possibly due to heavy vibrations that were caused by the auger machine. This had alarmed the rescue teams who assumed that this could further endanger the lives of the trapped workers. Then the rescue teams started focussing on other options including vertical drilling. However, to enable the vertical drill machine to reach the top of the tunnel, a temporary road had to be built which was built by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Two spots had been chosen for vertical drilling. The drill machine was taken there. Whether the vertical drilling could begin in right earnest or not is still not clear, since in past two days, the entry of media persons has been restricted in the area and the official media briefings have not revealed the entire facts and the updates.
At the same time, drilling from the Badkot end of the tunnel has also begun but, for that to achieve success, digging of up to 400 metres is needed.
Some confusion also prevailed for some time among media persons present in Silkyara but since this morning, a press briefing has been held at which it was confirmed that horizontal drilling has made good progress since last night and drilling of a total distance of 45 metres completed, with a further distance of 15 to 18 metres left. This is now expected to be completed by late tonight or by tomorrow morning.
With the hope of an early rescue, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also decided to reach Silkyara and, this evening, he departed in a chopper to the rescue site.
It may be recalled that when the horizontal drilling by the American Auger Drill machine resumed work in full earnest, last evening, it was decided to push 800 mm pipes inside the already drilled 900 mm pipes to provide greater strength to the drilled pipes through which the trapped workers are expected to be rescued.
Silkyara Rescue Operation Media Briefing
Drilling done till 45 meters of length inside the tunnel
By Our Staff Reporter
Silkyara (Uttarkashi), 22 Nov: An official media briefing was held this afternoon and later this evening at the rescue site outside the Silkyara tunnel. During the briefing, Bhaskar Khulbe, former advisor to the Prime Minister and currently an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) with Uttarakhand Government, stated that drilling had been completed up to a total distance of 45 metres till the evening. Since this afternoon, an additional 6 metres of pipe had been pushed in. He added that, now, the next phase of drilling had begun beyond the 45 metres and this phase is very important.
Secretary Dr Neeraj Khairwal, who has been nominated as the nodal officer for coordination between the different agencies and the departments, added that fresh communication had been established with the workers and now audio communication has also been established and set up with the help of NDRF and SDRF using cables, microphone and speakers.
Khairwal revealed that after the setup of the audio communication, the workers trapped inside were first made to speak to the doctors available at the rescue site. Doctors are now speaking to all the workers trapped inside the tunnel one by one to ascertain their wellbeing. He added that essential medicines are being sent to the workers. Apart from this, basic materials like towels, brushes, small clothes are also being sent in addition to the food items. A psychiatrist is also speaking to the workers at regular intervals. He confirmed that all the workers trapped inside are safe.
In the evening briefing, District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela, Director General, Information, Banshidhar Tiwari, Commandant, SDRF, Manikant Mishra, Superintendent of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi were also present.
Earlier, in the afternoon, MD (NHIDCL) Mahmood Ahmed briefed that 800 mm diameter pipes have also been pushed inside the 900 mm pipe by telescopic method. He said that drilling had resumed after a gap last evening and has been going on rapidly with the help of the American Auger Machine. He also disclosed that horizontal drilling work has also started in the tunnel from the Badkot end. At that end, drilling is also being accompanied by blasting and a third blast has been carried out since the beginning of drilling. Till the afternoon, today, drilling up to a length of 8 metres has been completed from the other end.
