Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse Live Updates: Rescuers 'Very Close' To Trapped Workers, Critical Breakthrough Likely

Rescuers on Tuesday packed solid food items such as veg pulao and matar paneer for the workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel. The cooked meal was sent to trapped workers through the 6-inch-wide alternative lifeline pipe that was laid on Monday evening.

Uttarkashi:  Eleven days after a portion of the under-construction Silkyara tunnel collapsed in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi, the rescuers on Wednesday said that they have reached 'very close' to making a critical breakthrough. Additional Secretary Technical, Road and Transport Mahmood Ahmed said on Wednesday that some big news is expected in the next 24 hours as an additional 880-millimeter pipe has also been pushed 21 metres through the rubble to free 41 workers. "If there are no obstacles, some big news may be received tonight or tomorrow morning. An iron rod has also come along with the debris. It is a matter of happiness that this iron in the middle of laying the pipeline did not create any problems for us...," Ahmed said in a press conference.

"An additional 800 mm pipe has also been pushed 21 metres inside the tunnel. Around 12:45 am, we started drilling through the auger machine and so far, we have pushed three more pipes...As long as we reach 45-50 metres inside the tunnel, we will not be able to give you the exact time. We are also doing horizontal drilling, we have entered around 8 metres from there as well," he added.

The rescuers earlier said that they had identified the location for vertical drilling to bring out all 41 workers trapped inside the tunnel. As per the Director of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), Anshu Manish Khulko, "The location for vertical drilling has been identified. Road work for vertical drilling on the hill above the tunnel is almost complete. More than 350 meters of road construction work is complete. BRO is building a road from both Silkyara and Barkot sides which is almost complete." Meanwhile, a piling machine that was stuck yesterday due to the road being narrow, has now reached the Silkyara tunnel site.

The rescuers earlier said that they were focusing on the 'horizontal drilling' method to evacuate 41 labourers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel and expressed confidence that if everything goes right, some 'good news' will come up in the next 40 hours. The use of 'horizontal drilling' became the focal point of the rescue mission, with officials expressing optimism that a positive breakthrough is imminent.

उत्तराखंड के उत्तरकाशी में टलन हादसे में फंसे मजदूरों को निकालने के लिए चल रहे रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन के 11वां दिन आज टनल में ड्रिल के जरिए पाइप को मलबे में डालने का कार्य चल रहा है. NHIDCL मलबे में पाइप को ड्रिल के जरिए डालने का काम कर रहा है. ऑपरेशन 11वें दिन भी लगातार जारी है. वहीं,… pic.twitter.com/Lq6ELhoGyf

— Zee News (@ZeeNews) November 22, 2023

Additional Secretary Technical, Road and Transport, Mahmood Ahmed, provided insights into the altered drilling methodology. Now, 800 mm-diameter pipes, a reduction from the initial 900 mm, are being employed with the telescoping method. The adjustment aims to navigate the challenging conditions within the tunnel more effectively.

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | Location has been identified for vertical drilling to bring out 41 workers trapped inside Silkyara Tunnel.

A part of the Silkyara tunnel collapsed in Uttarkashi on November 12. pic.twitter.com/EPYq0eEBNE

— ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2023

'Good News' Soon, Say Officials

Ahmed, addressing a press briefing, shared that the horizontal drilling efforts from both the Silkyara and Barkot sides are progressing. He expressed confidence, stating, "If everything goes right, we will come up with some 'good news' in the next 40 hours." While the focus is on horizontal drilling, challenges posed by the rock formation have prompted authorities to consider vertical drilling as a secondary option. The use of 800-mm pipes, according to Mahmood Ahmed, will facilitate a smoother process.

First Glimpse of Trapped Workers Brings Hope

In a significant development, the first visuals of the trapped workers emerged on Tuesday. An endoscopic camera sent through a new six-inch wide pipeline captured the workers wearing yellow and white helmets. The footage showed them receiving food items and communicating with each other, offering a glimpse into their conditions. Officials watching them on a screen were heard giving instructions, asking them to clean the lens. The workers were told to come near the camera and use walkie-talkies, apparently sent down earlier.

The camera was then pulled back up so that water could be released under pressure to clean the pipeline. Relatives had talked earlier to the trapped workers through the four-inch compressor tube that already existed. Food items like dry fruit were also being sent through that thinner pipe.

Enhanced Communication Through 'Lifeline' Pipeline

The deployment of the new pipeline serves as a morale booster for both the trapped workers and their anxious relatives. The improved communication allows for better coordination, and larger quantities of food, including oranges, dalia, khichdi, sliced apples, and bananas, can now be sent through the lifeline.

PM Modi Reviews Rescue Operation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke to Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and enquired about the progress of the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue work which entered the 11th day. The Chief Minister, in a post on  X, said that PM Modi enquired about the progress made in the last 24 hours. PM Modi also reiterated the government's commitment to the rescue mission. In a conversation with the Uttrakhand Chief Minister, he emphasized that the safe rescue of all trapped workers remains a top priority.

आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी ने आज फोन पर बात कर सिलक्यारा, उत्तरकाशी में निर्माणाधीन टनल में फंसे श्रमिकों के लिए भोजन, दवाइयां, अन्य आवश्यक वस्तुओं की आपूर्ति एवं उन्हें सकुशल बाहर निकालने हेतु चल रहे बचाव कार्यों की जानकारी ली।

आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री जी को केंद्रीय…

— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 22, 2023

Health Concerns, Evacuation Plans

A doctor, communicating with the trapped workers through the new pipeline, reported some complaints, including a burning sensation while passing urine. Electrolyte powder packets, multivitamin tablets, and anti-depressants are being sent to address health concerns. Uttarakhand Director General (Health), Vinita Shah, is overseeing preparations for the workers' evacuation to different hospitals in the district.

Multi-Front Rescue Efforts

Simultaneous efforts on five fronts, as highlighted by NDMA member Lt General (retd) Hasnain, signify the comprehensive approach to the rescue mission. The coordination involves deploying heavy machinery and constructing roads to facilitate alternative approaches.

Tribhuwan Singh Pangti, a retired additional director general of the Geological Survey of India (GSI), emphasized the safety of horizontal drilling, while international tunnelling expert Arnold Dix pointed out the precision required in vertical drilling.

As the rescue mission enters a crucial phase, the collective efforts aim to ensure the safe evacuation of the trapped workers, offering a ray of hope in the face of adversity.

Char Dham Project 

A group of 41 workers got trapped after a section of the 4.5-kilometre tunnel along the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway collapsed on November 12. This tunnel, intended to connect Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi, constitutes a segment of the Char Dham project. The under-construction tunnel aims to enhance connectivity to the Hindu pilgrimage sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. 

The workers, fortunate to have escaped without any injuries, currently reside within a 400-meter safety zone situated behind a substantial 200-meter stretch of rocky debris and coordinated efforts are underway for the past 11 days to rescue them safely.