The rescue operation to securely convey out the 40 stranded staff after a portion of the under-construction Silkyara Tunnel positioned on the Uttarkashi-Yamnotri highway collapsed, entered day 7 on Saturday morning (November 18). The reduction and rescue work was halted on the tunnel quickly since Friday, when a US-made auger machine deployed to drill and push in pipes developed a snag. Another high-performance drilling machine airlifted from Indore in Madhya Pradesh has already landed on the Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun and is being transported by highway to Silkyara the place it is going to be unloaded and assembled earlier than being deployed for drilling, officers on the spot mentioned.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami carried out a overview assembly with senior officers relating to the reduction and rescue operations, on the camp workplace on the chief minister’s residence in Dehradun.
By the time the operation was paused on Friday afternoon, the heavy-duty auger machine had drilled as much as 24 metres by way of the rubble unfold over a 60-metre space contained in the tunnel.
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“Around 2.45 pm on Friday, during the positioning of the fifth pipe, a loud cracking sound was heard in the tunnel after which the rescue operation was suspended,” a press release issued by the NHIDCL late on Friday night time mentioned.
The sound created panic among the many rescue crew. An skilled concerned with the venture warned about the potential of additional collapse within the neighborhood. Subsequently, the pipe-pushing exercise was stopped.
PMO official reaches spot
Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Deputy Secretary Mangesh Ghildiyal arrived on the spot at this time to examine the progress of the rescue operation.
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One heavy machine was airlifted from Delhi whereas one other one can be airlifted from Indore to hurry up the rescue efforts.
A C-17 transport plane of the Indian Air Force has been deployed to airlift virtually 22 tonnes of crucial tools from Indore to Dehradun, officers mentioned on Friday.
“The IAF has continued with its operations to assist the ongoing tunnel rescue underway at Dharasu, Uttarakhand. An IAF C-17 has been deployed to airlift almost 22 Tonnes of critical equipment from Indore to Dehradun. #FirstResponders #HADROps,” the IAF posted on X, previously Twitter.
Meanwhile, folks whose family are among the many 40 trapped staff are being allowed to talk to them by way of a pipe contained in the tunnel. The tunnel is central authorities venture being constructed beneath the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited.
(With PTI inputs)
