Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse News Live: The most recent updates from Uttarkashi indicate that rescue operations are set to recommence as the teams are on the verge of reaching the trapped workers. The rescue operation has entered its 14th day after the US-made auger drilling machine stopped again on Friday due to technical glitches.
On Thursday, certain officials overseeing the extensive rescue efforts had initially suggested that the workers would be successfully evacuated by 8 am, but later revised the deadline to the end of the day. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are gearing up for a critical rescue operation aimed at evacuating 41 workers. Simultaneously, local villagers in the vicinity are fervently praying for the mission’s success, seeking blessings from their indigenous deities. Among their rituals, they are invoking divine intervention by singing traditional Garhwali folk ‘jagars’.
As the Uttarkashi rescue operation enters final phase, here are the latest updates:
The auger machine engaged for drilling through the rubble at the Silkyara tunnel to rescue 41 trapped workers has busted, international tunnelling expert Arnold Dix said on Saturday. "Augering is finished...the auger is broken, destructed," he told reporters in Silkyara.
An official said that "the role of the auger machine will now no longer be drilling but instead, it will be used in pushing the pipes into the debris once the way is cleared by the men." He further said that because of the mixed approach being adopted, the time taken to reach the trapped workers may range from 15 to 18 hours depending on how fast the debris is removed by the team.
Manual drilling will start soon to cut through the debris that separates rescuers from the 41 trapped workers in the collapsed portion of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, officials informed on Saturday.
On drone technology that is being used in the rescue operation, Cyriac Joseph, MD & CEO, Squadrone Infra Mining Pvt Ltd says, "Our target is how we can rescue the 41 trapped workers & how quickly we can do it. The safety of the rescue team is also important..."
Rescue team faces a technical glitch once again. Auger machine is being brought out once again. Drilling halted. Further details are awaited. (ANI)
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami mentioned that the rescue of 41 workers stuck in the collapsed portion of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi is nearing completion. He confirmed that both central and state government agencies are jointly conducting the rescue operation.
NDMA member Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain has said there is still about 15 metres distance between the trapped workers and rescue services.
“There is about 15 metres still to be covered. By any means, we will bring out brave workers,” he said.
Officials, at an afternoon news briefing, said that the technical problem that stalled the drilling on Wednesday had been set right, and the operation would begin in the next couple of hours. The boring would resume after the another section of steel pipes is welded to the chute already pushed through, they said. (PTI)
Citing the data scanned by a ground penetrating radar, there is no metallic obstruction up to five metres beyond the 46 metre point through the rubble.
Latest media reports say that the rescuers are likley to reach a breakthrough by sometime around 8 pm. Two more steel pipes are to be inserted, reports say.
Prime Minister Modi assesses the situation, while an army team enters a steel pipe to eliminate obstacles hindering the drilling process.
A member of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) navigated the passage by propelling a wheeled stretcher attached to a rope through the tunnel. After completing the stretch, the personnel was safely pulled back up. A passage has been established using 800 mm diameter steel pipes through the debris in the tunnel, facilitating the rescue of workers who have been trapped for the past 12 days. The NDRF personnel who entered the passage lay on the wheeled stretcher facing downward during the operation.
Bhaskar Khulbe, former advisor to the Prime Minister's Office, expresses optimism that the operation could be successfully concluded by evening if all goes according to plan.
Hello and welcome back to our ongoing coverage of the Uttarkashi tunnel's mega rescue operations. Latest reports say that the augur machine has been assembled again and the drilling is likely to resume anytime now.
Drilling to evacuate trapped workers inside Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel halted again on Thursday, reported PTI.
International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix says, "The vertical drilling is all prepared, as in all the sites prepared” (ANI)
As the rescue mission nears its conclusion, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority, remarked, "If no hindrance comes in the way and the auger machine continues to function at its speed of 4-5 meters per hour, then I can say that maybe tomorrow during the day, you can receive the good news..."
In view of the Silkyara tunnel rescue operation, a temporary Chief Minister Camp office has been set up in Matali, Uttarkashi. Today morning, CM Dhami took stock of the tunnel rescue operation and also consulted with the experts present here.
For 11 days, the individuals have been trapped following the collapse of a section of the tunnel under construction on the Char Dham route in Uttarakhand, leading to the blockage of their exit.
The NDMA member also mentioned that the horizontal drilling for the rescue of workers might encounter three to four additional obstacles.
National Disaster Management Authority on Thursday said there could be a "success" in bringing out 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand in the next few hours or by Friday. (PTI)
In the ongoing rescue operations at the Uttarkashi tunnel in Uttarakhand, former advisor to the Prime Minister's Office, Bhaskar Khulbe, provided an update, stating, "We have advanced to a depth of 45 meters. The obstacle that caused issues last night has been successfully addressed. The process of pushing a 6-meter pipe takes approximately 4 hours, so reaching a depth of 18 meters will require around 12 hours. Additionally, it may take an additional 3 hours to complete the remaining work. Our primary focus is on ensuring the well-being of the workers trapped inside. We maintain a robust communication link with them. Every possible assistance and expert advice are being sought to expedite the rescue operation."
The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) and Indian Railways (IR) have come together to launch a special train transporting equipment from Karambeli in Gujarat to Rishikesh in Uttarakhand, covering a distance of 1605 km. The mission is to assist in the rescue of workers trapped in Uttarkashi tunnel collapse incident. Read More
Atul Karwal, the Director General of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), assured that the collaborative rescue efforts involving multiple agencies to secure the safe evacuation of 41 workers trapped in Uttarakashi's Silkyara tunnel would be concluded by the end of the day. Upon his arrival at the collapse site of the Silkyara Tunnel, DG NDRF mentioned to ANI, "The auger machine has resumed its operations. We plan to insert 2-3 pipes of 6 meters each. If no unforeseen obstacles arise, we aim to complete the rescue operation by the day's end."
Former advisor to PMO, Bhaskar Khulbe says "...In the next 14-15 hours, we will be able to cross the 60-metre mark. It will take 12-14 hours more for us to reach the spot where the workers are trapped and then it can take 2-3 hours more to assemble the workers and bring them out with the help of NDRF personnel."
International tunnelling expert Arnold Dix, who reached the tunnel site this morning, said that the final stage is like being at the "front door and ... knocking on it". "We know that the guys are there on the other side. I am going to have a look and see what is happening...," he told ANI.
According to Kulbe one of the main hindrances, the presence of steel rods along the path of the rescue pipes have now been removed.
"I am happy to tell you the entire steel that was obstructing the free movement of the pipe inside has now been removed. We are trying to move 6 metres ahead of the 45-metre mark that we have already reached. During drilling last night, an iron metal had come in, due to which the work was stopped. We hope that there will be no more obstructions in our way ahead" Bhaskar Kulbe said.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami arrives at the Silkyara tunnel site, where a rescue attempt to free the trapped workers is underway. he said, "45 metres of pipeline has been laid through auger machine. The rescue is at its final stages. There are some obstacles,. but I hope that the workers are rescued as early as possible. Post-rescue preparations have been done. Ambulances and Hospitals are ready for their check-up and treatment. PM Modi is taking updates on the rescue every single day. He took the update today as well. Our experts are working day and night to rescue the workers..."
VK Singh, Minister of State of Road Transport and Highways of India, arrived to the tunnel site to review the development.