Rescue operation continues for the 10th day at the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand on Tuesday. (Express Photo by Chitral Khambhati)Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse Highlights (November 22): Rescue ops has intensified at Silkyara tunnel collapse site after horizontal pipe inserted has reached a level of 45 metres. Drilling with the American auger machine resumed at the Silkyara tunnel overnight to prepare an escape passage for the 41 workers trapped inside for 11 days. A total of seven pipes (four of 900 mm diameter and three of 800 mm diameter) have been inserted through the rubble so far, said former Advisor to PM and Officer on Special Duty (Tourism) Bhaskar Khulbe. The officials are now expecting to get a breakthrough by late night or Thursday early morning.
After a series of setbacks, Tuesday, which was the 10th day since the workers were trapped following the tunnel collapse in Uttarkashi, brought in some good news. Besides the workers appearing on camera for the first time since being trapped, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority, said that there was sufficient water and oxygen inside and ample space for them to move around, coming as a relief for the family members anxiously waiting outside.
On Monday, the rescue team pushed through a six-inch-wide pipeline through the rubbles of collapsed Silkyara-Barkot tunnel to supply larger quantities of food and other essentials to 41 workers. Calling it the “first breakthrough” at the site, NHIDCL Director Anshu Khalko said, “We have sent the pipe 53 metres to the other side of the rubble and the trapped workers can hear and experience us.” Our man on the ground, Avaneesh Mishra, talked to Dr Abhishek Sharma, a government-appointed psychiatrist overseeing the mental health of the trapped workers, about how they are coping with the situation.
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Please follow latest updates from the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse rescue operations here.
The National Vaccine Van has arrived at the site of the collapse in Uttarkashi, where a makeshift hospital has been set up.
The Jharkhand government has planned to airlift workers belonging to the state who were among the 41 people trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand after their rescue.
There are around 15 workers from Jharkhand trapped in the tunnel.
An official from the Jharkhand labour department present at the rescue spot told PTI that the state government has planned to airlift the workers belonging to their state.
Another official said the rescued workers will be taken to a hospital at Chilyanisaur in Uttarkashi where a separate ward with 41 oxygen-supported beds has been prepared.
Depending upon their medical condition, they will be kept under observation at the hospital before being allowed to go back to their homes. (PTI)
Ambulances were on standby and a special ward at a local health centre kept ready as a multi-agency effort to rescue 41 men trapped in the Silkyara tunnel appeared close to success on Wednesday evening.
Till 6 pm, up to 44 metres of an escape pipe had been inserted into the debris of the collapsed stretch of the tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district, an official update said in Delhi.
Earlier, officials said the American-made auger machine had to drill through a 57 metre stretch of debris to reach the workers, who were trapped when a portion of the under-construction tunnel collapsed 10 days back.
By this count, just 13 metres of debris remained to be drilled through.
Drilling from the Silkyara-end was put on hold Friday afternoon when the auger machine encountered a hard obstacle around the 22-metre mark, creating vibrations in the tunnel that caused safety concerns.
The drilling resumed around midnight Tuesday. (PTI)
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel on Wednesday entered the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi where 41 workers remain trapped.
The rescue operations have intensified at the site with around 30 ambulances have been arranged at the spot to cater to emergency services if needed.
Speaking to ANI, Bisan Singh Panwar, Ambulance Technical Staff said, "We have oxygen cylinders available in the ambulances. Once workers come out, their vital organs will be checked. A total of 30 ambulances have been arranged so far. Out of 30 ambulances, there are 8 advanced life support ambulances and 22 BLS ambulances. It has been instructed to us that remain alert as rescue operation might be completed by night." Earlier today, Former advisor to the Prime Minister's Office, Bhaskar Khulbe on Wednesday said that work for the next phase will start today itself. (ANI)
"They told me not to worry and that we would soon meet outside," says Indrajeet Kumar with a renewed sense of hope after he was able to speak to two of his family members who are among the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel here for 10 days.
Indrajeet's elder brother Vishwajeet and relative Subodh Kumar are trapped inside the tunnel.
"Vishwajeet's three children are waiting for him to return and praying for him. I called him on Diwali but could not get through. When I contacted one of his colleagues, he told me that Vishwajeet got trapped inside the tunnel. I reached here the next day," said Indrajeet, who hails from Jharkhand's Giridih, on Wednesday.
He said he saw Vishwajeet and Subodh in a video of the workers released by rescuers on Tuesday. "Both of them are doing fine. Today I heard their voices. They told me that it's a matter of few more hours," he added.
Almost every worker had a similar message for their family members, who have been camping here for days, as drilling with the American auger machine resumed at the tunnel overnight to prepare an escape passage for them. (PTI)
A 41-bed hospital was readied on Wednesday at the Community Health Centre in Chinyalisaur in this district for the care of 41 trapped labourers after they are evacuated from the Silkyara tunnel.
Rescue efforts at the tunnel gained momentum on Wednesday with the American auger machine resuming drilling through the accumulated rubble at the collapsed site inside the tunnel and penetrating up to 45 metres by the afternoon to prepare an escape passage for the trapped labourers.
Around 12 metres more have to be dug through the rubble to lay two more 800 mm diametre steel pipes of 6 metre length each for the stranded workers to crawl through.
All the hospitals in the district as well as AIIMS, Rishikesh have been kept on high alert. (PTI)
Inching closer to their goal, rescuers have inserted wide pipes up to 45 metres through the rubble and will have to drill another around 12 metres to reach the 41 workers trapped inside the collapsed tunnel in Silkyara for 10 days, officials said Wednesday afternoon.
The authorities have also made elaborate healthcare arrangements for the workers as and when they crawl out through the pipe.
Speaking to reporters at the site around 4.30 pm, former advisor to the prime minister's office Bhaskar Khulbe said, "We are very happy to inform you that (drilling of) a length of six metres has been achieved over the past one hour. Hopefully the next two-three hours will be comfortable in terms of assembling for the next push and attaining what all of us are waiting for. I hope that when we assemble again at 8 pm we have some similar good news to share with you." He has been regularly briefing the media on the rescue efforts. (PTI)
Regional Manager, NHAI, Himachal Pradesh, Abdul Basit, along with Project Director, Shimla, Anand Dahiya on Monday inspected various under-construction tunnel sites in Shimla under the Four Laning project of Shimla Bypass and one at Kandaghat in Solan under Kaithlighat Project to check the safety measures being taken by the contractors and the preparedness of contractors in case of any emergency.
The inspection comes in lieu of the recent tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand that left around 41 workers stranded after a portion of the under-construction tunnel caved in. While the inspection of the various sites was done by the regional manager, directions were given to the contractors to take utmost care and ensure all safety precautions so that incidences like the one at Uttarakhand do not occur here. Read more
Boring to create an escape passage for 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel for 10 days resumed and currently is 45 metres in. NHIDCL MD Mahmood Ahmad told reporters in Silkyara that the stretch between 40 metres and 50 metres is "the most crucial." "After we cross it we can speak with more confidence," he said. A part of the Silkyara tunnel collapsed in Uttarkashi on November 12 and 41 workers are stranded inside the tunnel.
Boring to create an escape passage for 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel for 10 days resumed overnight and there were just 18 metres to go before the drilling machine breaks through the rubble, officials said Wednesday.
Following up on an alternative plan, rescue workers had also dug about eight metres from the other end of the under-construction tunnel on the Char Dham route in Uttarakhand.
At the Silkyara end of the tunnel, the officials said, 800-mm diameter steel pipes have been inserted up to 39 metres through the rubble and in another 18 metres the rescuers would reach the trapped labourers.
NHIDCL MD Mahmood Ahmad told reporters in Silkyara that the stretch between 40 metres and 50 metres is "the most crucial." "After we cross it we can speak with more confidence," he said. (PTI)
Were adequate support structures provided to prop up weak rock, and was the excavation process sufficiently monitored — experts say these are key questions to look into in the tunnel collapse in Uttarkashi, where 41 workers remain trapped since Diwali morning.
The under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel on the Yamunotri National Highway in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district collapsed at dawn on November 12. Read more
Ambulances have started arriving at the incident site of tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand. An official said they are keeping one ambulance each for all 41 workers.
A part of the Silkyara tunnel collapsed in Uttarkashi on November 12 and 41 workers are stranded inside the tunnel.
Uttarakhand Government Secretary Neeraj Khairwal confirmed that after a visual communication was established on Tuesday, they have also been successful in establishing an audio communication channel after sending a microphone and speaker to the other end of the 6-inch supply pipe.
"On this side we are using headphones to talk to them. Using this channel our doctors talked to them and asked for their well being. Some of them complained of constipation and medicines were provided," he said.
The official informed that some other basic items like undergarments, towels, toothbrush and other essentials were also provided.
A full meal, including daal filled in plastic bottles, along with mixed vegetable, roti and rice wrapped in aluminium foils were also sent to them.
A total of seven pipes (four of 900 mm diameter and three of 800 mm diameter) have been inserted up to 39 metres through the rubble so far, said former Advisor to PM and Officer on Special Duty (Tourism) Bhaskar Khulbe. The officials are now expecting to get a breakthrough by late night or Thursday early morning.
Since yesterday, the rescuers have made over 15 metres of headway.
Drilling with the American auger machine resumed at the Silkyara tunnel overnight to prepare an escape passage for the 41 workers trapped inside for more than 10 days. 800 diameter steel pipes have been inserted up to 39 metres through the rubble so far, said former Advisor to PM and Officer on Special Duty (Tourism) Bhaskar Khulbe.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami once again on Wednesday morning to take updates on the rescue operations underway at the tunnel and food and other essentials including medicines being supplied to the trapped workers through a new wider pipeline laid for the purpose.
Dhami briefed the prime minister about the positive progress made over the last 24 hours in the rescue efforts being carried out at the tunnel with coordination between the state government, the central agencies and the international tunnelling experts.
Vivek Srivastava, Commander 36 BRO told ANI, "The machinery has reached the site at the Silkyara end and the drilling has started there...The work on Barkot end will begin today."
Fifteen from Jharkhand, eight from Uttar Pradesh, five each from Odisha and Bihar, three from West Bengal, two each from Uttarakhand and Assam, and one from Himachal Pradesh – the men trapped inside the Uttarkashi tunnel may have come from different states, but what united them was the need to venture out in search of a livelihood.
The Indian Express spoke to their families, who have spent the last 10 days crippled with anxiety but holding on to hope:
Read the report by Abhishek Angad, Manish Sahu, Raakhi Jagga, Santosh Singh, Sujit Kumar Bisoyi, Sukrita Baruah, Sweety Kumari here.
The ongoing operations to rescue the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi entered Day 11 on Wednesday.
Currently, there is a five-point plan in place to evacuate the men. On Monday, the “first breakthrough” of the evacuation efforts was achieved when a six-inch pipe to supply essential commodities successfully reached the workers.
Read more about the five plans in place to get the men out
Drilling with the American auger machine resumed at the Silkyara tunnel overnight to prepare an escape passage for the 41 workers trapped inside for more than 10 days, officials said on Wednesday.According to officials, 800 diameter steel pipes have been inserted up to 32 metres through the rubble so far. Drilling was suspended at the tunnel since Friday when the auger machine hit a hard object. (PTI)
Sharing an update on the rescue ops, Additional Secretary Technical, Road and Transport Mahmood Ahmed, said: “First, the NHIDCL has ensured the facility of oxygen supply, food, water or medicine. There are lights and an electricity supply inside... There is a place up to 2 km inside as the tunnel was already built... From the 4-inch pipeline, we were sending dry fruits and other eatables... Through the 6-inch pipeline, we sent a walkie-talkie inside and established communication... We also got a video showing that all of them are in good mental and physical health..."
After a series of setbacks, Tuesday, which was the 10th day since the workers were trapped following the tunnel collapse in Uttarkashi, brought in some good news. Besides the workers appearing on camera for the first time since being trapped, Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority, said that there was sufficient water and oxygen inside and ample space for them to move around, coming as a relief for the family members anxiously waiting outside.
Tuesday morning brought some relief for family members of the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel for nine days here as the newly inserted six-inch pipeline made communicating with them easier.
The family members said they could hear the workers clearly through the new pipeline, which will also be used for sending larger quantities inside the tunnel. An alternative 6-inch pipeline was pushed in through the rubble of the collapsed tunnel on Monday.
"I talked to him this morning. Oranges have been sent to them through the new food pipe. Efforts are also being made to send khichdi to them. He is fine," Hembrum, who has come from Bihar's Banka, told news agency PTI. She said it was easier to communicate through the new food pipe.
"Earlier, we had to shout to make ourselves audible but today his voice was clear," she added. Jaimal Singh Negi, whose brother Gabbar Singh is also trapped inside the tunnel, said communication has definitely become better with the insertion of the new pipe but the real challenge of rescuing the workers remains.
As the rescue ops entered the 10th day, Member of the National Disaster Management Authority, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain, said: “Different agencies like NDRF, ITBP, Army engineers, SDRF, Fire and Emergency services, BRO and other technical agencies of the Government of India are working there. When a tunnel rescue takes place, it is a very challenging effort. 3-4 international experts have also come to the site. The government has made sure that wherever we have experts, they are flown in and available for advice... There is ample space inside where the workers are trapped. Ration, medicine and other essentials are being pushed through a compressor into the space where these workers are..."
The government on Tuesday issued an advisory to private television channels, asking them to refrain from sensationalising the coverage of the rescue operations at Silkyara in Uttarakhand, where 41 workers are trapped inside a tunnel for 10 days.
The advisory, issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, also told private television channels to be sensitive in their reportage, especially while putting out headlines and videos of the rescue operations, considering the psychological status of family members of the trapped workers.
"Telecast of video footage and other pictures relating to the operations by the TV channels specially by placing cameras and other equipment in close proximity of the rescue operations site have the potential to adversely affect the ongoing operations," the advisory said.
As the ongoing operations to rescue the 41 trapped workers in the Uttarkashi tunnel entered their tenth day, Indrajit Kumar, brother of Biswajit Kumar (one of the men trapped inside), said that the men are all safe.
"I have been talking to him everyday. Today also I talked via the big pipe which was inserted. They all are safe inside," he told reporters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday, the second day in a row, to enquire about the operation to rescue the 41 workers trapped inside Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel for 10 days. In a post on X, Dhami said he told Modi that the workers were safe and the prime minister underlined that the rescue mission is the topmost priority.
This is the fourth time that Modi spoke to Dhami to take stock of the rescue operation since the tunnel collapse on November 12. He spoke to Dhami on Monday as well. In his post, Dhami said Prime Minister Modi called again today and enquired about the operation being carried out to rescue the workers trapped inside the under-construction Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi.
International Tunneling Expert Arnold Dix speaking to the news agency, ANI, said, "Vertical drilling will start once the site is prepared because for vertical drilling it is very important that it is done very accurately. Till now two locations have been identified for vertical drilling."#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue operation | International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix says, "It's fantastic, of course, the news we have had over the last few hours. It is great to see the faces of those men that we are going to bring home. We have food going to… pic.twitter.com/t5f47dPgbu— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2023
Rescuers on Tuesday morning released the first video footage of the workers who have been trapped inside Uttarkashi’s Silkyara tunnel for a duration of 10 days. An endoscopic camera, sent in through an alternative 6-inch food pipeline, captured the visuals. In the footage, workers donning yellow and white helmets can be seen receiving food items delivered through the pipeline and engaging in conversation with the rescue teams. This development provided a sense of relief to the workers’ families.
? Horizontal boring by NHIDCL from Silkyara end for rescue of workers through Augur boring machine is scheduled to recommence today evening.
? The first machine of SJVNL for the construction of the Vertical rescue Tunnel has already reached the tunnel site and operations are being commenced post completion of access road by BRO. Movement of two other machines for the vertical tunnel construction started from Gujarat and Odisha through road.
? Work on construction of a rescue tunnel of 480 mtrs from Barkot end by THDC has commenced.
? Machinery for micro-tunneling by RVNL through horizontal drilling for rescue of labourers is being transported from Nashik and Delhi.
? Machinery for vertical boring are being mobilized by ONGC from USA, Mumbai & Ghaziabad.
? BRO has done a commendable work when approach road for vertical drilling of RVNL and SJVNL has been constructed within 48 hours. Further, now work is continuing for approach road for ONGC also.
(Inputs from a press release by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways)
In a significant development in the operation to rescue 41 workers trapped inside the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel, a six-inch pipe to supply essential commodities has successfully reached the men.
The pipe is 53 meters in length and preparations are being made to supply food to the trapped workers, officials said. National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited Director Anshu Manish Khalkho and rescue operation in-charge Colonel Deepak Patil said efforts are now on to evacuate the men as safely and as quickly as possible.
“This is just the first breakthrough and only the food pipe is inside. The main job is to get our boys out using the 900 mm pipes. This is just one step, through which we can send them (better) food, mobile phones, chargers, and also talk to them. We have made a list after talking to doctors, and are preparing food based on their suggestions,” said Patil. (Avaneesh Mishra writes)
An international tunneling expert, Arnold Dix, arrived at the disaster site to review the rescue efforts, now in its ninth day. Dix heads the Geneva-based International Tunneling and Underground Space Association.
Dix expressed hope that the trapped workers will be evacuated safely. He also expressed satisfaction at the rescue efforts done so far, saying "enormous amount of work" has been done.
"We are doing a lot of work at the moment to make sure what we do is safe and the people doing the evacuation are safe. I have just been down in the tunnel, enormous amount of work has been done there in preparation, and we are just coming up here at the top of the mountain to consider other options as well," Dix said.
"I only arrived yesterday but the work I have seen even between yesterday and today is extraordinary... Plan for today is working out the best thing to do to get the men out," he said.
The rescuers on Monday pushed through a six-inch-wide pipeline through the rubbles of collapsed Silkyara-Barkot tunnel to supply larger quantities of food and other essentials to 41 workers who have been trapped in Uttarkashi for 8 days.
Calling it the “first breakthrough” at the site, NHIDCL Director Anshu Khalko said, “We have sent the pipe 53 metres to the other side of the rubble and the trapped workers can hear and experience us.” While the earlier 4 inch tube was being used to supply food like dry fruit and medicines, the new pipeline will allow food items like roti and sabji to be sent to the workers.
The CPI(M) expressed deep concern on Monday over the plight of 41 labourers trapped in an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district, saying it is "inexplicable" why the Centre has not sought assistance from global experts in the rescue efforts.
In a statement, the politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expressed its "deep concern and anxiety" at the plight of the 41 workers. "A week has passed since the incident and so far, the efforts made to rescue them have not met with success," it said.
"It is inexplicable why the central government has not sought the assistance of international experts and agencies for the rescue work. No effort should be spared to deploy the latest expertise and technology to extricate the trapped workers," the Left party added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to take stock of the rescue operation to save 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel and stressed on the need to keep their morale up. (PTI)
Leader of Opposition in the Uttarakhand Assembly Yashpal Arya arrived at the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse site on Monday.
On day 9 of the rescue operations at the tunnel collapse site in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi, work began on five fronts.
Here are the top developments:
Arnold Dix, an international tunneling expert quoted by news agency ANI, said that his whole team was working to evacuate the 41 trapped workers inside the collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi.
'A lot of work is being done here. It is important that not only the men rescued but also the men who are rescuing are safe. The whole world is helping. The team here is fantastic. The plans are looking fantastic. The work is very systematic. The food and the medication are being provided properly,' he said.
On November 12, around 5.30 am, the under-construction tunnel on the Yamunotri National Highway, meant to connect Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarkashi district, collapsed. While officials say the men are safe – communication has been established via walkie-talkies and they are being supplied food and oxygen via a pipe meant to supply water. People trapped inside the tunnel are labourers hailing from Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, as per the District Emergency Operation Centre.
After facing several setbacks, authorities on Sunday (November 19) came up with a new five-point plan to rescue the trapped workers. This plan will involve drilling operations from three sides. There will be a vertical drilling operation taking place from the top of the hill under which the workers are trapped. The efforts to drill horizontally through the debris blocking the tunnel at the Silkyara side will continue, and an operation to drill a small tunnel from the Barkot side will also begin, according to the plans.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari visited the spot on Sunday, along with CM Dhami, and reviewed the rescue operations. Gadkari said that if the machines brought in for the drilling work properly, the workers would be rescued in two to three days. In the meantime, those trapped are safe and in good spirits, he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday, to discuss the ongoing operations to rescue the 41 workers who have been trapped since last week in Uttarkashi’s collapsed Silkyara-Barkot tunnel, the Uttarakhand CMO said in a statement. Modi said that the Centre is providing the necessary rescue equipment and resources, and that the workers will be evacuated safely through mutual coordination between the Centre and the Uttarakhand government. He added that the workers’ morale needs to be maintained, the CMO said.