According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, efforts at the Silkyara tunnel collapse site in Uttarkashi, where 41 workers are trapped, are intensifying, with approximately 67% of Augur drilling completed. The horizontal pipe has been inserted up to 45 meters, paving the way for the next stage of the rescue effort.
Bhaskar Khulbe, former advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office and Special Executive Officer in the Uttarakhand Tourism Department, expressed optimism, stating, “I am hopeful that in the next 2 hours, work will start for the next phase.” The announcement followed the completion of six additional meters of drilling using an American Oger machine.
The rescue operation incorporates various activities to boost the trapped workers’ morale, including yoga, kirtan, walking, and more. Gabbar Singh Negi and Sabah Ahmed, among those inside the tunnel, are reportedly providing encouragement to others.
NHIDCL has resumed horizontal boring from the Silkyara end, employing an Augur boring machine. A total of 45 meters of pipes have been inserted as of now. The second lifeline for food distribution is functioning efficiently, ensuring a steady supply of food, medicines, and essentials to the trapped workers.
For vertical drilling, SJVNL’s machine has arrived and been installed, while ONGC is mobilizing machinery from the USA, Mumbai, and Ghaziabad for vertical boring. The rescue operation involves collaboration among five agencies—ONGC, SJVNL, RVNL, NHIDCL, and THDCL—with specific responsibilities to ensure operational efficiency.
The collapse, which occurred on November 12, 2023, led to the entrapment of workers in the under-construction tunnel. The built-up portion of the tunnel, measuring 8.5 meters in height and 2 kilometres in length, provides safety with available electricity and water supply. The ongoing rescue efforts aim to establish safe passages and ensure the well-being of the trapped workers.