Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse: Rescue Operations Resume, Likely To Be Completed By End Of Day

The massive rescue operation to evacuate 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel resumed on Thursday morning after an overnight hurdle delayed the drilling by several hours.

Atul Karwal, Director General of the National Disaster Response Force, said that the multi-agency rescue operations will be completed by the end of the day.

REUTERS

Why the drilling was halted

"The auger machine has started operating again. We are estimating to send 2-3 pipes of 6 metres inside. Hopefully, by the end of the day, if we do not encounter any obstacles, the rescue operation will be completed," he said.

Uttarkashi District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela said that rescuers have drilled and considerably breached through the debris of the collapsed portion of the Sikyara tunnel.

AFP

How much more time for the rescue operation

According to Ruhela, only a little more work is left for the completion of the rescue operation, which has been ongoing for the past 12 days.

Former advisor to the Prime Minister's Office, Bhaskar Khulbe, who reached the Silkyara tunnel collapse site, said on Thursday that the entire steel structure obstructing the free movement of the pipe inside has now been removed.

"We had reached up to 45 metres; after that, a girder came in the way yesterday, that had been cut and removed. Now drilling work has started beyond 45 meters, and we hope that within 12 to 15 hours, we will reach up to 60 metres," he said in the morning.

AFP

Why welding experts were brought from Delhi

Welding experts from Delhi have also reached the Silkyara tunnel to take part in the rescue.

Radhe Raman Dubey, a welder, said he was brought to the site to weld the mild steel wire of the pipes that are being inserted into the debris. According to the rescue plan, the trapped men will be pulled out through the 900 mm pipes, which will be pushed inside the debris till a distance of around 60 metres so that the workers can crawl through them and come out safely.

"We are here to weld MS pipe inside the tunnel. Five welders have come here for the same...We'll do it with the help of welding machines," he said.

Mild steel welding wire is a type of welding wire made from low-alloy, high-strength steel. Mild steel welding wire is used for thin metal sheets like roofing and siding. It is also used for light industrial applications, like joining pieces of metal pipe.

AFP

What is the evacuation plan?

Once the pipes are laid, NDRF personnel will enter the tunnel and help bring up the trapped workers. They would lie on wheel-fitted low-height stretchers, which would be pulled out of the tunnel. This process is likely to take another three hours.

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