Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: CM Dhami Conducts On-site Inspection

Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse
Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse

Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse Updates:

On Saturday, the ongoing rescue efforts to evacuate 41 workers who were trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district reached its fourteenth day. Unfortunately, the drilling process was once again interrupted last night due to another technical issue encountered by the auger machine.

Rescuers are facing obstacles preventing the auger machine from drilling and laying steel pipes to create an escape route through the rubble. As a result, they are contemplating the possibility of manual drilling, which is a lengthier process.

A senior official involved in the rescue operation stated that once the auger drilling machine is removed from the tunnel pipeline, manual drilling can commence within the final 6-9 meters.

The official declined to provide a specific timeframe for the rescue operation, stating that the ongoing drilling process could potentially yield positive outcomes.

Nevertheless, as per reliable sources, the circumstances are becoming increasingly challenging as time goes by.

According to their statement, the auger machine has become lodged within the pipe, with approximately 30 meters of the machine stuck inside. A portion of the machine has been manually extracted, leaving around 21.5 meters of the auger drill still within the 800 mm diameter pipe. The removal of the drill is anticipated to be completed by tonight, with manual tunneling teams already on site. Once the entire blade has been removed, the manual drilling process will commence.

Arnold Dix, an expert in international tunneling, has reported that the auger has suffered irreparable damage and cannot be fixed. Dix emphasized that there are various methods for tunneling and that the loss of the auger will not impede progress. He stated that the auger machine is no longer operational and will not be replaced.

In addition, the Silkyara Tunnel site has received heavy machinery for vertical drilling. Furthermore, Pushkar Dhami, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, visited Uttarkashi to assess the ongoing rescue operation.

Related Video (ANI Video) https://www.msn.com/en-in/video/news/uttarkashi-tunnel-collapse-cm-pushkar-singh-dhami-visits-silkyara-tunnel-as-rescue-op-reaches-last-leg/vi-AA1ktyjb?ocid=socialshare&t=17

During a media briefing, Dhami announced that a plasma cutter has been brought in from Hyderabad to manually cut through the debris. The rescue operations are being carried out under challenging circumstances. It is anticipated that the entire machine will be removed by tomorrow morning.

The evacuation site is now equipped with ground-penetrating radar by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). This advanced technology allows for a thorough scan of the soil up to a depth of five meters, enabling the identification of any potential obstacles. Subsequently, the auger machine will be mobilized accordingly based on the gathered information.

The ongoing relief and rescue efforts, now in their thirteenth day, are being diligently conducted by scientists, international experts, NDRF, SDRF, and BRO with utmost urgency. Authorities have stated that there is currently no specific timeframe for the resumption of the operation and the subsequent rescue of the workers. Nevertheless, they remain optimistic about evacuating them as soon as possible.

During the press briefing regarding the tunnel rescue operation, Lt. Hasnain, a member of NDMA, stated that all 41 trapped workers are in a content and positive state. They are being provided with all necessary items and the communication line is functioning normally. Additionally, more family members have arrived and their morale remains high.

During the media briefing, Vishal Chauhan, a member of NHAI, stated that the progress of the operation has now reached 47 meters, with only a remaining distance of 12-15 meters.

A Detailed Account of the Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse Timeline

  • On the day of Diwali, specifically on November 12, a group of workers found themselves trapped when sections of the under-construction Silkyara-Dandalgaon tunnel on the Brahmkhal-Yamunotri highway collapsed due to a landslide at approximately 5.30 am. The district administration promptly initiated rescue operations and made necessary arrangements to provide the trapped laborers with essential supplies such as oxygen, electricity, and food through air-compressed pipes.
  • Version 1: The trapped workers were successfully contacted on November 13 via an oxygen supply pipe and are confirmed to be out of harm’s way. Despite this, rescue operations are still ongoing as new debris continues to fall from above, causing the affected area to expand from 30 to 60 meters and making the evacuation process more challenging.
  • On the 14th of November, steel pipes measuring 800 and 900 millimeters in diameter were delivered to the tunnel location. These pipes were intended to be inserted into the rubble using an auger machine for horizontal excavation. Unfortunately, during the process, additional rubble fell from the cavity caused by the cave-in, resulting in minor injuries sustained by two laborers.
  • The NHIDCL expressed dissatisfaction with the initial drilling machine on November 15th and requested a cutting-edge auger machine to enhance the pace of the operation. Subsequently, the state-of-the-art equipment was swiftly transported from Delhi via airlift.
  • The drilling machine was assembled and installed on November 16, commencing its operation after midnight.
  • By the afternoon of November 17, the machine had successfully drilled approximately 24 meters through the 57-meter long rubble stretch after working overnight. Four MS pipes were then inserted into the tunnel. However, the progress came to a stop when the fifth pipe encountered an obstacle. To aid in the rescue efforts, another high-performance auger machine was brought in from Indore. During the positioning of the fifth pipe in the evening, the NHIDCL reported hearing a significant cracking sound in the tunnel. An expert cautioned about the potential for additional collapse in the area, leading to the immediate suspension of the operation.
  • On November 18, the drilling operations were suspended due to concerns raised by experts regarding the potential collapse of debris caused by the diesel-powered 1,750-horsepower American auger inside the tunnel. This posed a significant risk to the lives of the rescue personnel involved. In response, a team of officials from the PMO and experts explored alternative options and decided to pursue five evacuation plans simultaneously. One of these plans involved vertical drilling from the top of the tunnel to rescue the trapped laborers.
  • On November 19, the drilling operations were once again halted while Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who assessed the rescue operation, stated that utilizing the massive auger machine to bore horizontally seemed to be the most favorable option.
  • On November 20th, rescuers made a significant advancement by maneuvering a narrow six-inch-wide pipeline through the debris. This breakthrough proved instrumental in providing larger amounts of food and other necessary supplies to the workers who were trapped. Nevertheless, the horizontal drilling operation, which had been temporarily halted due to a boulder obstructing the path of the robust auger machine, remained suspended.
  • On November 21, the first video of the trapped laborers inside the Silkyara tunnel was released by rescuers. The workers, who were wearing helmets in yellow and white, were observed receiving food items through the pipeline and engaging in conversation with each other. At the Balkot-end of the tunnel under construction on the Char Dham route, two blasts were initiated, marking the commencement of the drilling process for an alternative tunnel to the Silkyara-end option. However, experts have stated that this approach may require up to 40 days to complete. The NHIDCL has resumed the horizontal boring operation from the Silkyara end, utilizing an auger machine, during the overnight hours.
  • On the 22nd of November, ambulances were placed on standby and a dedicated ward at a nearby health center was prepared. The horizontal drilling process, using 800 mm diameter steel pipes, had successfully reached a depth of approximately 45 meters, leaving only 12 meters to go in order to clear the debris stretch of around 57 meters. Unfortunately, during a late evening operation, the drilling encountered an obstacle as iron rods obstructed the path of the auger machine.
  • The drilling delay caused by an iron obstruction was resolved on November 23, allowing rescue operations to resume. According to the state government’s nodal officer, the drill has progressed 1.8 meters and reached the 48-meter point. However, the drilling had to be halted again due to cracks appearing in the platform on which the machine was resting.
  • Prompt: Rewrite the text in a different way.
  • Drilling resumed on November 24 after the 25-tonne machine was restarted. Unfortunately, a new obstacle arose when the drill struck a metal girder, causing the rescue operation to be halted once again.

Read news: https://headliesheaven.com

  • Akash Suryavanshi

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