New Delhi: It has been 13 days since 41 staff bought caught inside a tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district after a landslide brought about a cave-in on Diwali. The rescue operation, which entails a number of companies and machines, has confronted a number of difficulties and delays. The newest setback occurred on Thursday, when the platform supporting the drilling machine developed cracks and compelled the drilling to cease.
Here is a timeline of the occasions which have unfolded because the catastrophe:
On November 12, the tunnel, which is a part of the (*13*)-Yamunotri freeway mission, collapsed at round 5.30 am, trapping the employees inside. The district administration and different authorities began the rescue mission and supplied oxygen, electrical energy and meals to the employees by means of pipes.
On November 13, the rescuers managed to speak with the employees by means of a pipe and confirmed that they had been protected. However, the particles contained in the tunnel elevated from 30 metres to 60 metres as extra rubble fell from above.
On November 14, the rescuers introduced metal pipes of various diameters to insert by means of the particles with the assistance of an auger machine, which is used for horizontal digging. However, two staff had been injured when extra rubble fell from the cavity.
On November 15, the rescuers determined to exchange the primary auger machine with a extra superior one, which was airlifted from Delhi.
On November 16, the brand new auger machine was put in and began working. It drilled about 24 metres by means of the 57-metre particles stretch by the afternoon and inserted 4 pipes. The fifth pipe encountered an impediment and the drilling stopped.
On November 17, one other high-performance auger machine was introduced from Indore to help within the rescue efforts. However, within the night, a loud cracking sound was heard within the tunnel, indicating a attainable additional collapse. The specialists suggested to droop the operation instantly.
On November 18, the drilling didn’t resume because the specialists feared that the vibrations from the auger machine may trigger extra harm to the tunnel and endanger the rescuers. The officers and specialists explored different choices, together with vertical drilling from the highest of the tunnel.
On November 19, Union minister Nitin Gadkari reviewed the rescue operation and mentioned that horizontal drilling with the auger machine appeared to be the most suitable choice. He anticipated a breakthrough inside two and a half days.
On November 20, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami and took inventory of the rescue operations. He additionally careworn on the necessity to maintain the morale of the employees excessive. The rescuers pushed a six-inch-wide pipeline by means of the particles, which helped them provide extra meals and different necessities to the employees. However, the horizontal drilling remained suspended as a result of boulder blocking the auger machine.
On November 21, the rescuers launched the primary video of the employees contained in the tunnel. The staff, sporting yellow and white helmets, had been seen sitting on the ground of the tunnel, holding placards with messages of hope and gratitude. They additionally thanked the rescuers and the federal government for his or her efforts.
November 22: Ambulances are stored on standby and a particular ward at an area well being centre is made prepared.
Horizontal drilling of 800 mm diameter metal pipes reaches about 45 metres with solely 12 metres remaining of the round 57-metre particles stretch. However, in a late night growth, the drilling hits a hurdle when some iron rods are available the best way of the auger machine.
November 23: The iron obstruction that had brought about a delay of six hours within the drilling is eliminated within the morning. Rescue operations are resumed.
State authorities’s nodal officer tells reporters that drilling had progressed by 1.8 metre after Wednesday night time’s setback.
Officials say the 48-metre level has been reached by the drill. But boring by means of the rubble needed to be placed on maintain once more apparently after cracks appeared within the platform on which the drilling machine rests
