9 days and counting: What's delaying the rescue op of 41 trapped workers in Uttarakhand tunnel?

It has been more than 170 hours since 41 workers got trapped following the collapse of a portion of an under-construction highway tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district. As the anxiety of the families of these trapped workers increases, the rescue efforts continue against time. The authorities have now devised a five-point plan involving drilling from three sides to reach the trapped workers. The prolonged entrapment of the workers has also raised concerns about their physical and mental well-being. What is going on and why is it taking so long to rescue the labourers? Let’s take a closer look. Five-point plan kicks in  Under the five-point plan, officials will drill a vertical hole from the top of the hill where the workers have been trapped since 12 November. According to Indian Express, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has formed an approach road for the machines to arrive at the top of the hill to drill a lifeline pipe. The Rail Vikas Nigam is working on another vertical pipeline to provide essentials to the workers, reported NDTV. Food and water are already being supplied to them through steel pipes drilled into the opening of the debris.

The horizontal boring through the debris obstructing the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel will continue. As per The Hindu, Anurag Jain, the Road Transport and Highways Secretary, said a ‘canopy’ would be developed to ensure the safety of the entrance of the collapsed tunnel so that the drilling does not cause damage to its structural integrity. There are also plans to drill a small tunnel from the Barkot side, reported Indian Express. Once the tunnel is fortified, the US-made auger machine will continue the horizontal drilling. The rescue operations had come to a halt on Friday after the auger machine to bore through the tunnel and insert wide steel pipes out of which workers could crawl out developed a snag. The operation was stopped after officials heard a sudden “cracking sound” during the insertion of a fifth pipe, reported PTI. Union minister Nitin Gadkar i, along with Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, visited the accident site to review the rescue and relief operations on Sunday (19 November). “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. According to Indian Express, machines sustained damage from breaking rocks and clearing debris on Friday, affecting the drilling work. About 24 metres have been drilled into the debris but up to 60 metres might be needed to be bored through the rubble to create an escape route for the trapped workers. [caption id=“attachment_13408262” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Rescue operations came to a halt on Friday. AP File Photo[/caption] PM Modi dials CM Dhami Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialled the Uttarakhand chief minister today (20 November) to discuss the ongoing rescue operations and assured the workers will be evacuated safely through mutual coordination between the Centre and the state government, Uttarakhand CMO reportedly said in a statement. He said the Central government is supplying the required pieces of equipment. Modi said that workers’ morale needs to be maintained, the CMO added. Antidepressants, dry fruit for workers The Road, Transport and Highways Secretary said on Sunday that 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. ALSO READ: Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: How safe are trapped workers, as rescue op enters Day 5? What’s behind the delay? According to Union minister Gadkari, the rescue operation is a tough task as the soil strata in the Himalayan region is not uniform. He also said horizontal drilling with the US-made auger was the quickest method to rescue the workers.

“We are working on six options simultaneously. The PMO is also closely monitoring the operation. Our biggest priority is to save all those who are trapped and as soon as possible. Whatever is needed will be done,” Gadkari said, as per PTI.  With inputs from agencies