Rescue operations in Silkyara tunnel will resume soon, says former PMO advisor
Uttarkashi (ANI): Former advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office Bhaskar Khulbe on Friday said the rescue operation to rescue 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi will resume soon as the technical glitch has been fixed.
Speaking to ANI here on Friday morning, Khulbe said that the platform on which the Augur drilling machine was mounted had developed some cracks on Thursday and has now been given a facelift.
“The situation is much better now. Last night we had to work on two things. First of all, we had to redesign the platform of the machine… Parsons Company had developed ground penetration radar, through which we knew that there was no metal obstruction for the next 5 meters. This means that our drilling must be smooth. When we were removing the debris, we found two broken pipes…” Khulbe said, adding that the trapped workers could be rescued today.
Further while talking to the journalists he said that the heavy auger machine is now working smoothly.
“We were able to set the auger machine firmly on its foundation. There were some obstructions at the mouth of the pipe, which we had to clear after cutting. It’s hard work; That’s why it is taking time. I hope that drilling work will resume by 11-11.30 am. “Ground Penetration Radar study has revealed that there is no metal obstruction in the next 5 metres.”
It is noteworthy that Friday was the 13th day of the rescue operation to rescue the workers trapped here.
On November 12, a portion of the tunnel under construction from Silkyara to Barkot collapsed and 41 workers were trapped inside after debris fell on a 60-meter section of the tunnel on the Silkyara side.
Workers are trapped in the 2 km constructed portion, which has been completed, including concrete work that provides safety to workers.
On November 21, NHIDCL resumed “horizontal boring operations from Silkyara end” overnight which included an auger machine.
Pictures emerged of an auger drilling machine facing a blockage to rescue workers on Thursday afternoon.
Some images of the tunnel show steel obstructing the free movement of rescue pipes inside the tunnel and blocking the other side of the tunnel under construction.
In one picture, the shadow of a man is seen capturing these moments on his mobile phone. According to officials, the debris was later removed.
Rescue workers, using an American auger machine, resumed drilling on Tuesday and by late Wednesday night, had drilled 45 meters of a 60-metre section of debris that blocked the Sikkyara side of the tunnel under construction from Silkyara to Barkot. Had given. (ANI)
