Uttarkashi tunnel collapse live updates: The mega rescue operations to bring out the 40 workers trapped inside the collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi entered fifth day today. Latest reports say that India has contacted the Thai cave rescue team to devise a plan. This team had successfully the children trapped inside a cave in Thailand in 2018. mega drilling machines have been flown in and have been assembled. Officials say that this would expedite the rescue process.    

Here are the latest developments on Uttarkashi tunnel collapse:

Drilling resumes at crash site

Authorities said they were confident an advanced drilling machine flown in from New Delhi will speed up the rescue at the site in the northern state of Uttarakhand. The plan is to drill and create space for a pipe that can be used by the trapped men to crawl to safety. Drilling had penetrated about 3 metres (10 ft) of debris by on Thursday morning, officials said, adding that they had to cover a total distance of about 60 metres. (Reuters)

VK Singh arrives at site

Rescue efforts entered the fifth day on Thursday as efforts continued to get out 40 workers trapped in the aftermath of the tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi. The tunnel, situated between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway, collapsed during the early hours of November 12. (Read More)

Trapped workers cry for help after being stuck for 98 hours

Mahadev, one of the 40 workers that are trapped inside the Uttarkashi tunnel screamed, “Mujhe bacha lo” (Save me!).

Union Minister General VK Singh arrives to check progress

Union Minister General VK Singh (Retd) arrived in Uttarkashi to inspect the status of the ongoing rescue operation to save the lives of 40 workmen trapped inside the tunnel after a land collapse. He said, “Rescue operation is underway, we have full hope. We are trying our best.”

Special IAF aircraft brings machine to crash site

Abhishek Rohilla, DM, Uttarkashi, says, “The machine has come through special aircraft of the Indian Air Force… Soon, the third aircraft will also arrive. Once all the parts of the machine are here, they will be assembled… We have transported this machine here to make the rescue process easier…” (ANI)

Director NHIDCL says rescuing process is “very slow”

The Director NHIDCL (National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited) Anshu Manish Khalkho says in an interaction, “Since yesterday, we have used a machine named Auger, through which we drill and try to make tunnel… We noticed that the process was very slow… For this, we have requisitioned an American Auger, which has come from Delhi. We airlifted it, and the Indian Air Force helped us in this… The state’s administration is coordinating with us… We are providing sprouts, dry fruits, and others… We are providing them with water, not juices…”

Big update on IAF choppers

Director NHIDCL (National Highway & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited) Anshu Manish Khalkho says, “…The nature of the rock here is very fragile… We have airlifted the latest machine from Delhi, and it may land anytime within one hour at the Chinyalisaur airport near here. The Indian Air Force is helping us… In the next 3–4 hours, we will be able to install the machine, and rescue work will resume.” (ANI)

Plan-B underway as auger machine fails to drill through rubble

The operations to rescue 40 men trapped inside a tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi suffered a setback as the auger machine meant to drill through the debris and install steel pipes proved insufficient in doing so. Officials told The Indian Express that the machine that was brought from Dehradun to place the 900 mm mild steel pipes for the men to crawl out failed to drill through the rubble. (Read More)

Locals and workers stage protest over delay in rescue operations

As rescue operation at Uttarkashi tunnel site entered its fourth day, tunnel workers and locals took to protest outside the incident spot against the administration and the construction company. They accused the administration of not doing enough to rescue those trapped inside, reports The Indian Express. (Read More)

First drilling machine breaks down

The initial drilling machine encountered difficulties in penetrating the rubble, prompting the dispatch of a second machine from Delhi. As a contingency, preparations are underway to create an escape tunnel amidst the debris. The first auger drilling machine experienced a malfunction, leading to the mobilization of another device to the site for the ongoing efforts.

Indian Air Force choppers roped in

The IAF will undertake trials at Chinyalisaur airport for landing choppers today. The Indian Air Force is likely to airlift the heavy drilling machines to the collapse site.

Labourer Speaks To Son Through Pipe

One of the stuck labror, Gabbar Singh Negi, talked to his son through the pipe that has been installed to ensure that oxygen reaches the trapped labourers.

Char Dham highway constriction earlier faced criticism

The Char Dham highway is one of the most ambitious projects of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. It aims to connect four revered pilgrimage sites through 889 km (551 miles) of two-lane road being built at a cost of $1.5 billion. The project has faced criticism from environmental experts and some work had been halted after hundreds of houses were damaged by subsidence along the routes. The impact of the project was not properly assessed before construction started, a report by a Supreme Court-appointed expert committee had said in July 2020. (REUTERS)

Uttarakhand govt providing dry food

The workers trapped inside the tunnel are being provided with dry food like puffed rice and chana. Additionally the government is taking care of constant oxygen flow inside the tunnel through a large pipe to prevent suffocation and panic. (READ MORE)

Learn about the trapped labourers

According to a list of the trapped workers issued by the District Emergency Operation Centre, 15 are from Jharkhand, eight from Uttar Pradesh, five from Orissa, four from Bihar, three from West Bengal, two each from Uttarakhand and Assam, and one from Himachal Pradesh. (PTI)

Auger machine is used to rescue people

An auger machine has been imported from the state capital of Dehradun as part of a new scheme. The machine has entered the tunnel. The goal is to use the machine to drill through the rubble pile and then push 900 mm wide metal pipes through the debris to create a passageway.

“I went inside the tunnel”, says CDO Gaurav Kumar

CDO Gaurav Kumar says, “Communication with them was established at 10 am today. All of them are safe and sound. Edible items and drinking water are being arranged, CMO has also arranged some medicines. It is being sent to them. As far as rescue is concerned, pipe pushing is about to start.”

Uttarakhand gov to begin probe into tunnel collapse

Uttarakhand government constituted expert committee begin probe into Uttarkashi tunnel collapse (ANI)