'Like we're knocking at front door': Tunnelling expert Arnold Dix on Uttarakhand rescue ops
The international tunnelling expert said that his promise has always been to bring all 41 workers back home safely.
After making a breakthrough in rescue operation to reach the workers trapped inside the under-construction Silkyara tunnel by drilling 45 metres through the rubble, international tunnelling expert Arnold Dix on Thursday described how far away the rescuers are from hitting the end point. Dix is aiding the rescue process.
At the moment, it's like we are there at the front door and we are knocking on it. We know that the guys are there on the other side. I am going to have a look and see what is happening," he said after reaching the tunnel site.
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Former advisor to Prime Minister's Office Bhaskar Khulbe said the team of rescuers will take another 12 to 14 hours to complete the drilling process.
"It will take 12 to 14 hours more to complete the drilling and reach the workers. After that, it will take three more hours to take the workers out one by one and that will be done with the help of the NDRF," he said.
After the boring through around 45 metres into the tunnel, rescuers came across several hindrances, one of them being the US-based auger machine hit steel rods on Wednesday, which was removed. The next day, the drilling machine again faced another hurdle when an iron mesh came in the way. The rescue official removed that as well.
Meanwhile, all arrangements have been made to provide immediate medical care to the 41 trapped workers after they are evacuated, officials said.
Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Arpan Yaduvanshi told news agency ANI that a green corridor has been built to escort the workers to Chinyalisaur where the makeshift hospiltal has been built.
“Our post-rescue action plan is ready. We will take the workers with a police escort and make sure that the best possible treatment is provided to them. I think they will be taken to Chinyalisaur and then if necessary to Rishikesh,” he said.
The workers have been trapped since November 12, when the under-construction tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot got blocked due to debris falling in a 60-meter stretch on the Silkyara side.
The operation to rescue 41 workers trapped inside a Uttarakhand tunnel for the past 11 days is in its critical phase.
