The 41 workers trapped in the collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara are only 12 metres away from rescue officials working to save them. “Big news” is anticipated by 11:30 pm, as the American-made drill has advanced another six metres into the hillside.
“I am happy to announce we have been able to move forward by another six metres. It is expected that in the next two hours, when we prepare for the next phase, we will be able to (finish) remaining work,” Bhaskar Khulbe, the Special Officer deputed to the Uttarakhand Tourism Department, told reporters. Mr Khulbe informs about 67 per cent of drilling had been completed. Earlier today, Mahmood Ahmed, a senior official with Uttarakhand’s Road and Transport Department, stated that the auger (earth drilling machine) activated at 12:45 am had drilled a total of 18 metres.
“I am very happy to share that drilling for 39 metres has been completed. Estimates indicate the workers are trapped 57 metres underground, so only 18 metres is left,” he explained. Ahmed also mentioned that the most time-consuming aspect of the rescue attempt, which is now in its 11 day, is the welding of pipes to be inserted into the drilled holes to create an escape route for the workers.
“Welding is most important… this takes time. It does not take much time to drill… due to this it has taken almost 15 hours, from late night, to send 18 metres of pipes, i.e., three sections,” he added. “An additional 800mm pipe has also been pushed 21 metres inside the tunnel.”
“If there are no obstacles, some big news may be received tonight or tomorrow morning. An iron rod has also come with the debris. We are happy this (rod) did not create any problems for us…”. “This is very happy news for us, that we are moving forward at a fast pace,” he added. However, Ahmed also issued a word of warning—that the remaining section is the most critical.
Rescue efforts have been slow, complicated by falling debris as well as repeated breakdowns of heavy-drilling machines. The drilling was suspended on Friday after the auger machine hit a hard object. The resumption of drilling with the auger machine is expected to expedite the rescue efforts.
Both the state and the central governments have promised to do all they can to bring the 41 workers back up safely, but they have refused to give a definitive timeline for their rescue, noting these are “subject to change due to technical glitches, challenging terrain, and unforeseen emergencies”.
Officials have said the workers could be rescued any time between 60 hours and 15 days. Five government agencies, including the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation – have been roped in to this massive effort, and given specific goals, including drilling vertically for an alternative escape route.
In case the route through the main entrance does not work, blasting and drilling have also begun from the far end of the unfinished tunnel, which is nearly half a kilometre long.
Preparations have also been made for a risky vertical shaft directly above. Rescuers have already drilled smaller holes to reach the tunnel in which the workers have been trapped since 12 November, and have used these to supply them with food, water and medicines.
