Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse Highlights: Efforts to save 40 trapped workers back on track as high-capacity machine brought in

Efforts to rescue 40 workers trapped in an under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi appeared to get back on track on Thursday as a high-capacity machine, flown in from the national capital, started the drilling process. The men have been trapped there since 5.30 am on Sunday.

According to information provided by the Uttarkashi District Emergency Operation Center, the operation began around 10.30 am on Thursday, and by 4.30 pm, it had drilled through 9 metres and was still going on.

Though the workers are safe – they are being provided oxygen, food and water through a pipe – the rescue operation has not been without hiccups. Read More

In the latest development in the operation to save 40 workers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi, drilling has begun using the Auger machine, and as of now, a 6-meter pipe has been pushed into the tunnel. Welding for the second pipe is in progress.

An under-construction tunnel on the Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district collapsed at dawn on Sunday, trapping 40 workers inside. While an official report is awaited, Manoj Garnayak, a former project director at L&T and an expert in underground construction, explains how it could have happened — and how it could have been prevented.

The failure (the section that has collapsed) is located around 200-300 metres from the mouth of the tunnel. It could have happened due to a loose patch (of rock), which wasn’t visible during the construction. The patch might have consisted of fractured or fragile rock, that is, rock with a lot of joints that may have made it weak.

Another reason could be the seepage of water through a loose patch. Water erodes loose rock particles over time, creating a void on the top of the tunnel, which can’t be seen. However, these are only general principles, and we must wait for the results of a comprehensive investigation in this case. Read our explainer to know more

Patil, who is heading the recue efforts indicated that the equipment and machines for a possible option 3 are already on wheels."

But there are high chances that the current rescue plan will work. The machine has drilled through 3 metres in the first half hour, but we cannot give an exact timeline as the speed could further increase or decrease. We do not have a machine to look inside the debris and determine what is in it," he added.

"In the last 4.5 years, there was no indication (of any complication in the tunnel). We had been continuously doing 3D monitoring and data monitoring, and we didn't find anything which could suggest that this was a crash zone or that it could collapse. We started the reprofiling with a lot of cautious and thought process. We completed the 2.3 km (from the Silkyara side) with great speed," the official said."

In this project we have used the New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) which is basically (a combination of) drill and blast. The primary thought process behind this method is to continuously monitor the deformations as you go in. More the deformations, more caution, more rock bolts and more primary support," said Patil.

Patil, who is heading the rescuing efforts now, said, "There is high chance of plan B being successful. Its just a matter of few hours. In the first half an hour the machine has penetrated around 3 metres, which is good. But we are going at it more cautiously so that we don't damage the equipment. There could be some impediments inside. There are bent metal lattice girders and ribs in the rubble. However chances of boulders is less."

He added that the machine is capable of smashing through these impendiments, but its still better to avoid those. The machine, said Patil, is seldom used in these kind of operations.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami spoke to news agency ANI and said, "We are in regular contact with them. All the arrangements for them are being made there. Everyone is safe. This work was done by NHIDCL. the tunnel was on the verge of completion, and just 400 metres were left... Now we will review it all... PM Modi is reviewing the rescue operation and is continuously in contact with all of us."

#WATCH | Uttarkashi Tunnel Accident | Dehradun: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, "We are in regular contact with them. All the arrangements for them are being made there... everyone is safe. This work was done by NHIDCL; the tunnel was on the verge of completion, and just… pic.twitter.com/Vl31sYXh18

— ANI (@ANI) November 16, 2023

As the operation to save 40 workers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi entered the fifth day, the rescuers have brought in state-of-the-art, American-made “horizontal dry drilling equipment with auger”.

The machine was 3 metres inside the tunnel after half an hour on Thursday, said Col. Deepak Patil, former GM, NHIDCL.

As rescue efforts resume, high capacity drilling machines have been transported from New Delhi to the incident siteand installed. All necessary arrangements have been made at the incident site and a team of experts has also reached the incident site to operate these equipments.

Deputy District Magistrate, Dunda/Executive Engineer, Construction Division PWD Chinyalisaur and police/fire brigade etc. have been deployed at Chinyalisaur airstrip and other necessary arrangements have been made including machinery like JCB etc. for machine loading etc.

As the operation to rescue 40 men trapped in a tunnel in Uttarkashi makes steady but slow progress, anxiety levels among their families are rising.

Uttarakhand resident Maharaj Singh Negi, whose brother Gabbar Singh Negi is trapped inside, arrived at the site late Monday night with his family, including Gabbar’s son Akash.

With 40 men having spent over 80 hours trapped inside the tunnel in Uttarakhand that collapsed on Sunday morning, the Chief Medical Officer of Uttarkashi, RCS Panwar, Wednesday reported some concerns regarding their health.

He said that some of those inside have complained of minor headaches and nausea, and added that delivery of essential medicines, multivitamins, glucose and dry fruits is being ensured through a six-inch pipe to aid the men.

Read the full report here.

These are all the updates from the fourth say of the operation to save 40 workers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi:

? Rescuers faced another setback when an auger machine brought to drill through the rubble and create a passage struggled to carry out the task

? About two metres of pipe was also inserted into the debris through the machine. However, the machine, provided by Vardhman Engineering Works, was not able to cut through the debris at a high enough speed

? A decision was then taken to remove that machine and bring a bigger one

? Following this, rescuers brought in state-of-the-art, American-made “horizontal dry drilling equipment with auger”. The machine was airlifted from Delhi using two Hercules C-130 planes. The machine is used in operations where drilling is performed horizontally, typically without the use of water or other drilling fluids

? “After the previous plans failed, we have switched to the next plan. We are first installing an additional 125 mm pipe for air, food, camera, and communication. That pipe is already 12 metres in,” Bhupendra Singh, DGM, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) informed The Indian Express on Wednesday

?  The RVNL has now been given the responsibility to carry out the drilling operation

? “We are almost certain this plan will work. If not, the final option will be using conventional drilling using the pipe roof umbrella method," the official said

Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: Protests erupted near the Uttarkashi tunnel site in Uttarakhand as rescue operations continued into the fourth day, aiming to free 40 workers trapped inside since Sunday. The demonstration, staged by workers, expressed frustration over the delayed rescue efforts. The workers, hailing from various states including Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, became trapped following a collapse caused by a landslide during construction of the tunnel on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway, a segment of the Char Dham all-weather road project. Rescue endeavors were hindered on Tuesday due to a fresh landslide, prolonging the ordeal for those stranded inside.

In a setback to the efforts to rescue 40 men trapped inside a tunnel in  Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi, a plan to drill through the debris and install steel pipes using an auger machine has failed, officials told The Indian Express.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Bhupendra Singh, DGM, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited explained what they plan to do next.

“Under plan 2, we are first installing a 125 mm pipe for air, food, camera and communication. That pipe is already 12 metres in. Also, a state-of-the-art, American-made horizontal dry drilling equipment with auger is on its way (from Delhi) on two Hercules C-130 planes. The planes will make a total of three rounds to carry the equipment,” he told The Indian Express. (Read More)

Three special aircrafts of the Air Force are carrying a 25 tonne heavy machine to be used for debris removal. With the help of the machine, debris upto five metres can be removed per hour. An attempt to remove the debris using the machine will be made Wednesday evening.

The rescue team has contacted a ompany in Thailand which had rescued children trapped in a cave there. Norway's NGI agency has also been contacted to obtain specific suggestions for operations inside the tunnel. Suggestions have also been sought from experts of Indian Railways, RVNL, RITES and IRCON.

The earlier auger machine, provided by Vardhman Engineering Works, was not able to cut through the debris at a high enough speed. A decision was then taken to remove that machine and bring a bigger one.

Setback in #UttarakhandTunnelCollapse rescue: Machine unable to drill through rubble, official shares details of next steps@itsmeavaneesh reportshttps://t.co/g0E1UN3WfR pic.twitter.com/25JCqeLWrp

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) November 15, 2023

More than 72 hours after the under-construction tunnel on the Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district collapsed, rescuers will try a new way to reach the 40 workers trapped inside — burrowing horizontally underground without disturbing the loose rock and debris on the surface.

Attempts to smash through the pile of rubble using large digging and earth-moving equipment have not succeeded as the loose, almost crumbly, rock continues to fall, blocking the passage with fresh debris even as a path to the workers is being cleared. By Monday night, heavy excavator machines had removed around 21 metres of loose debris, but new debris showers had undone a third of the work, restricting the progress to only 14 metres.

In a setback to the efforts to rescue 40 men trapped inside a tunnel in Uttarkashi, a plan to drill through the debris and install steel pipes using an auger machine has failed, officials told The Indian Express.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Bhupendra Singh, DGM, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited explained what they plan to do next. “Under plan 2, we are first installing a 125 mm pipe for air, food, camera and communication. That pipe is already 12 metres in. Also, a state-of-the-art, American-made horizontal dry drilling equipment with auger is on its way (from Delhi) on two Hercules C-130 planes. The planes will make a total of three rounds to carry the equipment,” he told The Indian Express.

“We are almost certain this plan will work. If not, the final option will be using conventional drilling using the pipe roof umbrella method. Under that, we will build an entire tunnel and it will take five-six days as it goes just around 10 metres a day. However, we are sure it will not come to that and the second plan will work,” he said.

After large excavators could not clear the rubble in the first two days, rescuers had decided to use a “trenchless” technique – putting together passages made of 900 mm mild steel pipes right through the debris so the men could crawl out.

However, the machine that was brought from Dehradun for this purpose could not drill through the rubble. It was then decided to bring in bigger equipment from Delhi.
The earlier auger machine, provided by Vardhman Engineering Works, was not able to cut through the debris at a high enough speed. A decision was then taken to remove that machine and bring a bigger one.

Adesh Jain, owner of Vardhman Engineering Works, said his machine is 35 HP (horsepower) and weighs 9 tonnes, while the new machine is 175 HP and considerably heavier. The platform to support both the machines is also different.

Rajeev Das, a construction worker from Bengal, was about to enter his room after his night shift when one of his colleagues started shouting frantically. It took him nearly a minute to realise that a part of the tunnel where he had been working until a few minutes ago had collapsed, trapping some of his colleagues.

Soon, everyone embarked on a frantic rescue mission. “We all rushed toward the tunnel entrance, about 300 metres from our temporary residence. Some went to find JCB drivers, and others searched for their friends on the night shift. Initially, we thought it might be a minor collapse, and began removing the debris however we could. But soon, we realised it was a challenging search and rescue (mission),” Das said. Read more

"The rescue operation is challenging but we are trying our best to rescue the (40) trapped workers. Two NDRF teams are present here. The trapped workers are safe," an NDRF official told PTI.

VIDEO | Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: "The rescue operation is challenging but we are trying our best to rescue the (40) trapped workers. Two NDRF teams are present here. The trapped workers are safe," says an NDRF official. pic.twitter.com/pVSdi2ZnJV

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 15, 2023

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Locals and workers have gathered outside the rescue site in Uttarkashi, protesting against the administration and company. The angered people demand release of those people inside the tunnel and they have expressed doubt over supply of oxygen inside the tunnel.

Check out the video Avaneesh Mishra has captured from the site: 

Locals protest outside #Uttarkashi tunnel site. Rescue operation is underway and escape tunnel is being prepared. A second auger drilling machine is being brought to site from Delhi after the first one broke.

Follow #UttarakhandTunnelCollapse LIVE updates:… pic.twitter.com/Lsulax3BDM

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) November 15, 2023

As the rescue operation at Uttarkashi tunnel site entered the fourth day, tunnel workers and locals took to protest outside the spot against the administration and construction company. They have accused the administration of not doing enough to rescue those trapped inside.

'The Navyuga officials are not talking to us properly, neither there is any actual information of what is happening inside. We are also not allowed to go inside the tunnel. It's the fourth day and nothing conclusive is happening. Those inside are our brothers,' said Luv Kumar Raturi, a worker.

The video shared by PTI on X shows rescue workers operating on full swing to release the trapped workers inside the under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi.

Visuals from Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand as rescue operations continue to rescue 40 workers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri National Highway that collapsed on Sunday morning.#Uttarakhandtunnelcollapse pic.twitter.com/qk0PeNwTZP

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 15, 2023

The family of 40-year-old Raju Nayak from Odisha’s Mayurbhanj keep checking their phones for updates from Uttarkashi, where he is among the 40 workers trapped inside an under-construction tunnel since it partially collapsed on Sunday morning.

“We know that all efforts are being made by the administration for the safe rescue of all the workers. I know my son – he is brave and a fighter. He will come back. We all are praying for the safe return of all the workers,” said Muchiram Nayak, Raju’s father.

After large excavators could not clear the rubble blocking an under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi where 40 workers are trapped, rescuers are now using a “trenchless” technique, putting together passages made of mild steel pipes right through the debris so the men can crawl out.

It was around 5.30 am on Sunday that the under-construction tunnel on the Yamunotri National Highway, meant to connect Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district, collapsed.

Hello! Stay tuned here as we bring you latest updates and ground reports from Uttarakhand tunnel collapse site. As of now, 40 workers are trapped inside the tunnel and the rescue operation is underway.