Manual drilling starts at Uttarakhand tunnel collapse site

The manual horizontal drilling of the tunnel at Silkyara, Uttarakhand, where 41 tunnel workers have been trapped for more than two weeks, started on Monday evening. It started after the US-made Auger drill broke down once again, with its blades getting destroyed by the iron grill on the tunnel ceiling.

The manual drilling is being conducted primarily by “rat hole miners”, with the assistance of the Indian Army. These miners get their name from digging rat hole sized tunnels to extract coal. Meanwhile, on the second day of vertical drilling on top of the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel, around 36 metres were drilled, with another 50 metres to go to reach the trapped tunnel workers.

The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) said on Monday that the vertical drilling was likely to be completed by Thursday, 30 November. The managing director of NHIDCL, Mahmood Ahmad told the media in Uttarkashi, “The work of vertical drilling is also going on which is being executed by SJVNL. As of now, vertical drilling of 36 meters has been completed. We have to drill 50 meters more. We will take all actions, and we hope that we move forward quickly.” He had earlier said that “The current machine that has been deployed can drill around 40-45 meters. We have brought two more machines for this purpose… Changeover machines will take time. We are expecting vertical drilling work would be completed by 30 November.”

Earlier on Monday, National Disaster Management Authority member, Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd) said that manual drilling would start in the evening with the help of Indian Army engineers, rat hole miners and other technicians, who would work inside in groups of two people. At least six rat hole miners have arrived from Delhi and Jhansi to enter the tunnels and dig manually. Neeraj Khairwal, Secretary, Uttarakhand Government, said that timelines for the drilling operations in totality cannot be assumed.

“After taking out the part of Auger that was stuck inside the tunnel was taken out. 1.9 meters that was cut, in that, the first 220 mm was pushed, and was taken out. There was concern that it may not be pushed, but now we won’t have to go on an alternate method. Then again 500 mm was pushed. Rat miners pushed that part,” the official said.
“A time limit cannot be said, but let’s hope and pray that minimum obstacles occur and we will be able to do this quickly,” he added.

Officials said that the 41 workers trapped inside the tunnel were stable and safe.
Lt General (Rtd) Syed Ata Hasnain said that “Things are under control. Food and medicine are going inside as per requirements. Psychological aspects are also given importance. Backup communications have been established.”

After a portion of the tunnel caved in on November 12, the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel trapped 41 labourers inside the under-construction structure.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Principal Secretary, P.K. Mishra visited the rescue site on Monday and took stock of the situation and spoke with the trapped workers over phone.
On Sunday, a line of phone communication was established with the 41 workers by BSNL, which set up a temporary telephone exchange at the location.