Indian Air Force Heavy Machine Drills to Rescue Trapped Workers in Uttarakhand
A major rescue operation is underway in Uttarakhand as 40 workers remain trapped in a mountain tunnel following a landslide on the Brahmakal-Yamunotri National Highway. The workers had been caught in the middle of the mine construction project when disaster struck on Sunday.
Efforts to rescue the workers involve the combined efforts of both central and state governments, as well as disaster recovery teams. Originally, plans were made to drill holes in the ruins and insert large steel pipes through them in order to secure the safe extrication of the workers.
However, these plans hit a roadblock when the drilling machine malfunctioned. In response, an Indian Air Force heavy machine weighing 25 tonnes was flown from Delhi to the crash site on Wednesday, using an Indian Air Force C-130 Hokulis aircraft. This has allowed for the intensification of drilling operations in the ruins of the tunnel.
The urgency of the situation has drawn the attention of several high-ranking officials. Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, VK Singh, visited Uttarakhand on Thursday to oversee the rescue operations. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Thami also provided updates to the media, expressing optimism about the ongoing efforts.
“They are drilling 5 to 7 meters every hour with heavy machinery,” Thami stated. “We are confident that the workers trapped in the rubble will soon be rescued safely.”
As the drilling operations continue, hopes remain high for the successful rescue of the 40 trapped workers in Uttarakhand.