Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: The 11 long days in the lives of the 41 workers trapped

It has been 11 days since 41 workers got trapped inside a partially-constructed tunnel at Silkyara in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district after parts of the structure collapsed following a landslide last Sunday. Here is a look at the timeline of the disaster and the rescue efforts that unfolded. 12 November The labourers get trapped as portions of the Silkyara-Dandalgaon under construction tunnel on the Brahmkhal-Yamunotri highway collapse following a landslide at around 5.30 am on the day of Diwali. Rescue efforts are launched by the district administration and arrangements made to supply oxygen, electricity and eatables to the trapped labourers through air-compressed pipes, reported PTI. Multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), project executing agency National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), join the rescue efforts. [caption id=“attachment_13385762” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Rescue and relief operations underway after a portion of a tunnel under construction between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed, in Uttarkashi district. PTI[/caption] 13 November Contact is established with the trapped workers through a pipe meant to supply oxygen to them and they are reported to be safe. Rescue efforts continue as Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visits the site. Not much progress is made in removing the debris accumulated on the collapsed part of the tunnel as fresh rubble keeps falling from above, further complicating the task of the rescuers. As a result, the debris accumulated in an area of around 30 metres spreads to 60 metres. A strategy is devised to stabilize the loose soil inside the tunnel applying the method of shotcreting (spraying concrete) and then insert large-diameter steel pipes through the rubble to prepare an escape passage for those trapped. [caption id=“attachment_13385802” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reviews the ongoing rescue and relief operations after a portion of a tunnel under construction between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed, in Uttarkashi district. PTI[/caption] 14 November Steel pipes of a diameter of 800 and 900 mm are brought to the tunnel site to be inserted through the rubble with the help of an auger machine for horizontal digging. However, the efforts suffer a setback when more rubble falls from the cavity created by the cave-in and causes minor injuries to two labourers. Meanwhile, a team of experts begins a survey of the tunnel and surrounding areas for soil testing. The trapped workers are supplied food, water, oxygen, electricity, and medicines as some of them complain of nausea and headache.

15 November Dissatisfied with the performance of the first drilling machine, the NHIDCL asks for a state-of-the-art American auger machine, which is airlifted from Delhi to speed up the rescue efforts. 16 November The high-performance drilling machine is assembled and installed. It starts working past midnight. 17 November Working overnight, the machine drills about 24 metres through the rubble by the afternoon and four MS pipes with a length of six metres each are inserted. The process comes to a halt when the fifth pipe hits an obstacle. Damage to the machine is also reported. Yet another high-performance auger machine is flown down from Indore to assist in the rescue efforts following a request from the NHIDCL. [caption id=“attachment_13390092” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Rescue operation personnel are installing 800-900 mm diameter pipes through the rubble inside Silkyara tunnel to prepare an escape passage for trapped workers. PTI[/caption] In the evening, the NHIDCL reports that around 2.45 pm on Friday, during the positioning of the fifth pipe, a big cracking sound was heard in the tunnel and the rescue operation suspended immediately. The sound creates panic among the rescue team members. An expert involved in the project warns about the possibility of further collapse in the vicinity. Subsequently, the drilling and pipe-pushing activity is stopped. 18 November Drilling does not resume on Saturday as experts feel that the vibrations created by the diesel-driven 1,750-horse power heavy-duty American auger inside the tunnel might cause more debris to collapse, posing a risk to the lives of the rescue personnel. Alternative options are explored by a team of officials from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and experts who decide to work on five evacuation plans simultaneously, including vertical drilling through the top of the tunnel to rescue trapped labourers. [caption id=“attachment_13390102” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Security forces personnel guard as rescue work continues after a portion of an under construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed, in Uttarkashi. PTI[/caption] 19 November Rescue work at the site was virtually on hold Sunday as the agencies involved in the effort continued to work simultaneously on multiple approaches to reach the trapped men. The Road, Transport and Highways Secretary Anurag Jain said that the government has undertaken a five-option action plan to rescue the workers. The government is giving multivitamins, antidepressants and dry fruits to the trapped workers. “Fortunately, there is light inside because the electricity is on. There is a pipeline, and thus water is available. There is a four-inch pipe, which was used for compression. Through that, we are sending food from day one”, PTI quoted him as saying. On Sunday, the rescue team pushes in a second six-inch wide tube up to 39 metres stretch into the rubble. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari reviews the rescue operations and assures that “whatever is required to save the 41 trapped workers will be done and keeping the morale of workers and their family members high should be everyone’s collective responsibility.” He was accompanied by CM Dhami, who said the rescue operation is challenging as the soil strata in the Himalayan region is not uniform. “If the auger machine works properly, we will be able to reach them (victims) in the next 2-2.5 days…” Gadkari said, as per ANI. [caption id=“attachment_13411072” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami review the rescue operation after a portion of an under-construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon. PTI[/caption] 20 November International tunnelling and underground space association president Arnold Dix conducted a survey at the collapse site on Monday to aid in the rescue efforts. According to ANI, Dix specialises in underground and transportation infrastructure – from construction risk to more technical issues associated with the actual safety performance from an operational safety perspective. Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks to CM Dhami over the phone to take stock of the situation. [caption id=“attachment_13411052” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] NDRF and other Emergency Services personnel conduct a mock drill to rescue workers trapped after a portion of a tunnel under construction between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed. PTI[/caption] Assuring the families of the trapped workers that they will be rescued soon, CM Dhami on Monday said officials are in touch with the relatives of the trapped workers so that they do not face any inconvenience. The state government said it will bear the travel, food, lodging expenses of relatives of the 41 workers trapped inside. Leader of Opposition in the Uttarakhand Assembly Yashpal Arya demands a CBI probe into the factors that led to the unfortunate incident. 21 November The six-inch lifeline pipe successfully reaches the men confined inside. Till now, a four-inch tube was being used to supply oxygen and other survival items. According to officials, food items like dalia, khichdi, sliced apples and bananas can be sent in through the new and bigger pipeline. Also, mobile phones and chargers could be sent to the workers. The stranded workers have been asked to engage in activities like yoga, walking and have encouraging conversations among themselves and with their loved ones. First visuals of the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel emerged on Tuesday. [caption id=“attachment_13411102” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Visual of a worker trapped inside the under-construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway, in Uttarkashi district, released by rescuers. PTI[/caption] In the video released by the rescue agencies, the workers wearing yellow and white helmets are seen receiving food items sent to them through the pipeline and talking to each other. Officials watching them on a screen are heard giving instructions, asking them to clean the lens. The workers are told to come near the camera and use walkie-talkies, apparently sent down earlier. The camera is then pulled back up so that water can be released under pressure to clean the pipeline. Stalled rescue operation to evacuate them through an escape passage cutting across the debris was resumed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to CM Dhami on Tuesday, the second day in a row. The prime minister said it is our top priority to rescue all the workers safely," Dhami posted on social media. According to Anshu Manish Khulko, director of NHIDCL, informed, “We have cleaned the pipe,” adding that fruits like oranges, bananas and medicines were sent to the 41 workers, who are said to be in a healthy state. For dinner, they received solid food items such as veg pulao and matar paneer. It is believed to be their first proper meal since they have been stranded inside. 22 November Mobile chargers were sent inside the collapsed section. Road and Transport Technical Secretary, Mahmood Ahmed said 800 mm-diameter pipes are being pushed using telescoping method, as per ANI. He said, “After that, we will do further drilling inside it with the American auger machine.” These are “crucial hours” in the rescue operation. [caption id=“attachment_13415572” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] A drilling machine being brought for rescue operation at the under-construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway, in Uttarkashi district. PTI[/caption] Ahmed further said that it will take 30 to 40 hours to rescue trapped workers if drilling goes smoothly. A huge machine stuck on the way on Tuesday reaches the Silkyara tunnel site today and will facilitate in proceeding further with the operation. With inputs from agencies