Uttarakhand tunnel collapse Highlights: Rescue op halted again due to technical glitch

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse LIVE: The Odisha government plans to send family members of three out of the five Odia workers trapped inside the collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand, as confirmed by an official on Friday.

Meanwhile, the relatives of the remaining two laborers are already in Uttarkashi district, where the incident occurred. Additionally, N Thirumala Naik, the Labour Commissioner, mentioned that another department official will join the team present at the site, ensuring continuous updates on the rescue operation for the government.

(PTI)

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse LIVE updates: As the rescue operation at the Silkyara Tunnel site halted once more due to the withdrawal of the auger machine from drilling, geophysicists were tasked with conducting Ground Penetration Radar (GPR) to identify the type of obstacle affecting the drilling process.

Geophysicist, GPR survey team B Chendhoor said, “We were called because something got stuck in the auger machine. GPR helps us know how far the metallic object is...GPR basically scans, therefore two people are needed one to run the GPR & the other to acquire the data.”

(ANI)

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse LIVE updates: On drone technology that is being used in the rescue operation, Cyriac Joseph, MD & CEO, Squadrone Infra Mining Pvt Ltd said, “This is a new technology, it goes into GPS denied areas, it is used in underground tunnel & underground mines...It has been introduced in India recently...Our target is how we can rescue the 41 trapped workers & how quickly we can do it. The safety of the rescue team is also important.”

(ANI)

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse LIVE updates: The rescue team encounters another technical setback as the auger machine is being retrieved once more, causing a pause in drilling operations, ANI reported.

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse LIVE: Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday said that the rescue operation is “in its final stage,” adding that both the central and state government agencies are working together.

CM Dhami said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking all the updates regarding the rescue operation being carried out at the Silkyara tunnel.

“The rescue operation is in its last stage. PM Modi is taking all the updates about the difficulties that workers might face and discussing the solutions. Both the central and state government agencies are working together for the rescue operation. We hope that soon this operation will be completed and all the workers will come out,” CM Dhami said.

(ANI)

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse LIVE: Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority, stated on Friday regarding the Uttarakhand tunnel rescue operation that the state and central governments are collaborating to save the ‘sons of India’, ensuring no resources are spared for the rescue operation.

“It's a very challenging operation. A war is being fought to save the sons of India who have been toiling up there in the mountain, and the government of India is ensuring that no resources will be left which are required and have not been mustered for this particular rescue operation,” Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain was quoted as saying by PTI.

The NDMA emphasised that it is unwise for the media to speculate about the timeline for completing rescue operations as it can mislead the public. They highlighted the collaborative efforts of central agencies and multiple state governments engaged in the rescue operations at the Silkyara tunnel.

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse LIVE: As the rescue efforts in the Uttarkashi tunnel approach a crucial phase this Friday, the families of the trapped workers fervently prayed for the safe reunion with their dear ones.

“This morning we talked to him through walkie talkie. During the conversation, we inquired about his well-being and my brother was also asking about the other members of the family. Everything like food, drink, clothing is being available to them inside the tunnel. I just wish that he returns safely,” a brother of a trapped labourer was quoted as saying by ANI.

On Friday, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) conducted a display showcasing the maneuvering of wheeled stretchers within the inserted pipeline as part of the ongoing efforts to rescue 41 workers stuck inside a collapsed section of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi for over a 10 days.

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse LIVE: Former advisor to PMO, Bhaskar Khulbe, said on Friday that the rescue team is trying to bring out the workers by evening. “Drilling will start after 45 minutes. There are no issues, it takes time to collect all the equipment... All the metal has been taken out... We are trying to rescue them (workers) by the evening,” Khulbe was quoted as saying ANI.

Prime minister Narendra Modi specifically directed the chief minister to prioritise the health assessments and medical support for the workers upon their emergence from the tunnel. Chief minsiter Dhami assured the prime minister of actively overseeing the relief and rescue efforts within the Silkyara Tunnel while also ensuring continuous monitoring at the grassroots level.

On Day 12 of the rescue operations, the 41 trapped workers are relying on ludo, yoga, and games like ‘chor-police’ to relieve themselves from the anxiety-fueled atmosphere. It is expected that the operations will conclude by tonight.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, taking stock of the situation surrounding the rescue operations for the 41 trapped workers.

Former PMO advisor Bhaskar Khulbe has said that a major breakthrough is expected in the next 12-15 hours as the drilling work is expected to resume any minute now.

NDRF has prepared to roll out trapped workers in wheeled stretchers in a specially prepared contraption through the drilled pipe in the rubble.

The technical issues that caused a snag in the rescue operations have been resolved, and there are no metal obstructions in the drilling path. The drilling for the final phase of the rescue operations are set to commence shortly.

The last phase of the rescue operations in Uttarakhand tunnel collapse incident are set to commence soon, with NDRF officers and rescuers are making preparations for the 41 trapper workers to finally get out of the rubble.

Officials part of the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse rescue operations said that giving a timeline for the success of the ops “is wrong” and can only put pressure on the rescuers, leading to a potential snag.

Bhaskar Khulbe has said that the drilling work will resume around 11-11:30 am today, November 24, as it has been detected that there is no metallic obstruction for the next 5 metres.

Former advisor to PMO Bhaskar Khulbe has said that the situation has improved drastically, and the trapped workers may be rescued by the administration by today evening.

Authorities released a late night visual from the tunnel collapse site, shortly after the drilling operations were halted.

As the rescuers have already drilled over 46 metres into the rubble, it is expected that the operations are now near completion and the trapped workers can be reunited with their families in just a day or two.

According to tunneling expert Arnold Dix, the drilling work to rescue the 41 trapped workers is set to resume today, as the auger machine was being repaired overnight.