Clock Ticking: Workers Trapped For 10 Days In Uttarkashi Tunnel, Vertical Drilling Set For Today

Rescue operations in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi are gearing up to initiate vertical drilling on Tuesday afternoon, aiming to reach 41 workers stuck in an under-construction tunnel for over 10 days, roughly 240 hours. Starting at 2 pm from the Silkyara end, this effort aims to penetrate the tunnel and aid in the rescue.

Efforts to survey the tunnel using drones faced obstacles, with attempts limited to 28 meters above the debris due to obstruction, resulting in damage to one drone. Similarly, a Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) robot couldn't ascend the tunnel's slope due to debris.

Preparations for drilling include the fabrication of a protective canopy for the drilling machine and the simultaneous commencement of pipe pushing using an auger machine, which began early Tuesday morning. Additionally, box segments have been placed, and more culverts are being installed.

A breakthrough occurred on Monday with a six-inch alternate pipe reaching the trapped workers, facilitating the delivery of essential supplies, including nutritious food such as khichdi, oranges, bananas, apples, and 'dalia' sent down the pipe in plastic bottles. Officials also arranged for a phone with a charger to enable communication.

A team of global tunneling experts, including Arnold Dix, the president of the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association, arrived to oversee the operation. Dix expressed confidence in the rescue, acknowledging the challenges posed by the rugged terrain but emphasizing the collective efforts to ensure the workers' safety.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi conversed with Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, emphasizing coordinated efforts between central and state agencies to ensure the safe evacuation of the workers. Maintaining the morale of those trapped remained a priority, as Dhami reassured that both state and central agencies were diligently engaged in relief and rescue work, affirming the safety of the trapped workers.