Rescue Operation for Trapped Workers in Uttarakhand Tunnel Delayed Due to Crack
Dehradun: Workers have been trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand for more than 150 hours after a sudden crack was heard from the mine on Friday, delaying the rescue operation.
The incident occurred in the 4.5 km tunnel between Silkyara Bend – Bargat connecting Uttarakhand, Yamunotri as part of the Chardam Highway project. A 60-meter-long tunnel collapsed, trapping 40 workers inside with sand covering both sides. The rescue operation has been ongoing for more than 6 days, with efforts to insert 900 mm diameter pipes using a giant drill to create an escape route for the workers.
During the rescue operations, another crack was heard on Friday night, causing concern for further collapses. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) expressed the possibility of another collapse and cited previous similar noises. Additionally, the temperature inside the mine is higher than outside, with the trapped workers not complaining of the cold despite the drop to 13 degrees Celsius at night.
To aid in the rescue efforts, an Indian Air Force aircraft will fly a new 22-ton engine from Indore to Dehradun, as the previously used 25-tonne American machine for lateral drilling has proven slower than expected. NHIDCL director Anshu Manish Kalko explained the need to remove waste from drilling and weld the pipes before injecting them, which has added time to the operation.
Furthermore, a laborer trapped in a mine in Odisha has provided insights to an official from the state government’s labor department, particularly regarding the 5 workers from Odisha among the 40 trapped individuals. Additionally, rescue workers have identified one more person trapped in the rubble on Friday night.
The rescue operation continues as authorities work diligently to ensure the safe extraction of all the trapped workers from the Uttarakhand tunnel.