41 Workers Trapped in Uttarakhand Tunnel After Landslide, Rescue Operations Delayed Again
Rescue operations to save 41 workers trapped in a tunnel in Uttarakhand following a landslide have hit a snag once again. The final phase of recovery operations was halted after a crack in the cement concrete floor disrupted the work of drilling and laying pipes.
The incident occurred on Thursday night in the Silkyara area of Uttarkashi district, where a two-way tunnel collapsed after a sudden landslide on the 12th. Workers inside the tunnel were trapped behind heavy debris, prompting a massive rescue effort.
Efforts to provide aid to the trapped workers include administering oxygen to prevent fainting, along with sending fruits, nutritional pills, and anti-depressants through a small tube. An endoscopy camera has confirmed that all the workers are fine, and a 6-inch-wide tube has been inserted through the rubble to deliver food and cell phone chargers.
Rescue operations were also hampered when the drilling machine’s blades were damaged, causing a delay. However, on Thursday, drilling resumed in hopes of completing the works in 12 to 14 hours. A temporary halt occurred Thursday night due to the cracks in the cement concrete floor.
An alternate plan is also being considered to drill a 120-meter vertical pipe into the mountain to rescue the workers.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Thami, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways VK Singh, and NTRF Director Atul Karwal were on-site to inspect the situation and express hope to the trapped workers.
Medical treatment is being prepared for the workers at a nearby Primary Health Center, with 41 beds specially set up to provide care once the workers are rescued. Emergency vehicles are also on standby for transportation.
The National Rescue Team (NDRF) estimates that the rescue operation will take at least 3 hours after the pipe is fully driven. The workers have been trapped for 11 days, and efforts are being made to rescue them as soon as possible.