Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: New Equipment, Expertise Of Thailand Cave Rescue Team Renews Hope

The agonising wait of some forty families for some good news about their loved ones trapped inside an under-construction tunnel in Uttrakhand's Uttarkashi continued on the fifth day on Thursday.

The rescue team has installed a new, heavier machine to drill through the rubble to reach the trapped men.

REUTERS

What delayed the rescue operation

The rescue operation had hit an unexpected roadblock on Wednesday after the augur machine used for drilling developed some technical issues.

Following this, the Indian Air Force had flown three special aircraft to airlift the 25-tonne heavy auger machine from Delhi.

How new auger machine was brought

The new auger machine, having a penetration rate of 4-5 metres per hour, was brought in three batches by Hercules aircraft of the Air Force and landed at Chinyalisaur airport. It was taken to the tunnel site through a green corridor.

IAF

The first Hercules aircraft of the Air Force, carrying parts of the new machine from Hindon Airbase in New Delhi, landed at Chinyalisaur airstrip at around 1 p.m. on Wednesday, after which the parts were transported by truck to the Silkyara Tunnel at around 4.45 p.m.

Who are involved in rescue operation?

Colonel Deepak Patil, in charge of the relief and rescue operation, said that the Jack and Push Earth Auger machine, made in the US, is very advanced and works fast. Now, the military operation team has also joined the relief and rescue mission.

IAF

"Apart from this, the help of special teams from Norway and Thailand is also being taken to rescue 40 labourers trapped in the tunnel. A rescue company in Thailand has been contacted. This is the same company that had rescued children trapped in a cave in Thailand. Suggestions have been also sought from Norway's NGI agency. Besides, suggestions are also being taken from experts of Indian Railways, RVNL, RITES and IRCON," he added.

REUTERS

How long will the rescue take

The officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited are confident that the rescue operation will be completed successfully today.

"We have the support of the administration... We will succeed in this (rescue process). The machine is 99.99% installed. I want to inform everyone not to get misled... Everyone is fine; they don't need medical help. But still, the medical team is here..." NHIDCL PRO Girdharilaal said.

How 40 trapped men are doing

40 construction workers, including 15 from Jharkhand, eight from Uttar Pradesh, five from Odisha, four from Bihar, three from West Bengal, two each from Uttarakhand and Assam, and one from Himachal Pradesh, have been trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel, located on the Yamunotri National Highway since Sunday morning.

REUTERS

Dharam Singh, the father of one of the men trapped inside, said that his son is also trapped inside the tunnel, adding that he spoke to his son and gave him courage.

"My 20-year-old son Vijay Kumar is trapped inside the tunnel. I spoke to my son for a little while and I gave him courage and assured him that everything would be fine and he would be brought out by this evening. Food and water are being provided to him in small quantities," Dharam Singh said.

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