In a race against time, rescue operations continue for the workers who have been stranded in a collapsed tunnel for over 96 hours. Authorities are sparing no effort to expedite the process, employing a state-of-the-art auger drilling machine flown in from New Delhi via an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft.
This advanced drilling machine boasts an impressive drilling speed of 5 meters per hour. However, the unpredictable nature of debris, particularly the presence of potential obstacles like boulders, makes it challenging for officials to determine an exact timeline for the rescue.
Facing criticism from trapped workers and their co-workers who staged a protest on Wednesday, NHIDCL director Anshu Manish Khalko acknowledged that loose debris was hindering rescue efforts. In response, the high-performance auger drilling machine is set to be deployed on Thursday, offering a renewed sense of hope for both authorities and the workers’ families.
According to Khalko, drilling through 50-60 meters of debris is expected to take approximately 12 hours with the new machine, significantly speeding up the process.
Devendra Patwal, Uttarkashi District Disaster Management Officer, provided an update, stating that a platform has already been prepared for the auger drilling machine. The platform will facilitate the machine’s immediate deployment, aiming to make a substantial impact on the ongoing rescue mission.
An anonymous official involved in the operation revealed that the previous auger machine, supplied by a Delhi-based company, was not in optimal condition to handle the challenging debris within the tunnel. The machine became ineffective on Tuesday evening when a boulder obstructed its path.
Despite the challenging circumstances, trapped workers are reportedly maintaining optimism. However, some have complained of symptoms such as nausea, headache, and anxiety. To address these concerns, health department doctors stationed outside the tunnel are providing necessary medical assistance and medications to the trapped individuals.
The collapse occurred in a section of the under-construction tunnel, stretching from Silkyara to Dandalgaon on the Yamunotri National Highway (NH). The majority of the affected workers hail from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, and West Bengal, according to district administration officials. The situation remains critical, emphasizing the urgency of the ongoing rescue efforts.
