Near the entrance of a tunnel in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, where 41 labourers have been stranded for eleven days, drilling operations have resumed.
On Friday, operations were halted when rescuers detected a splitting sound during drilling.
Officials report that additional rescue operations, such as excavating down from the summit of the mountain, remain on schedule.
On November 12, a portion of the tunnel that the labour force was constructing collapsed as a result of a landslip.
Hours later, authorities were able to make contact with the men who were trapped and were providing them with water, dry snacks, and oxygen via a pipeline that had been constructed to supply water to the tunnel during construction.
Families Anxious as Rescue Progresses Slowly
Officials have provided consistent updates and declared that significant advancements are being achieved.
The workers’ relatives and friends are growing worried and upset about the slow extraction of the men.
An endoscopic camera, which had been inserted through a newly installed conduit, provided a sense of relief to apprehensive relatives who had gathered around the tunnel on Monday. The camera captured footage of the workers. They were requested to identify themselves in front of the camera and were given the assurance that rescue was imminent.
Authorities claim they can now deliver more oxygen, food, medications, mobile phones, and chargers through the expanded new pipe.
“Don’t miss out! Grab your free shares of Webull UK today!”
Tuesday marked the workers’ initial hot supper in ten days; rescuers stuffed bottles containing khichdi, a dish consisting of rice and lentils, and delivered them inside the building.
Officials informed that rescuers resumed excavating near the tunnel’s entrance at 02:00 local time (20:30 GMT) on Wednesday. Thus far, they have drilled 39 metres (128 feet) through the detritus.
Thus far, four pipelines, each measuring 900mm in diameter, have been successfully inserted through the debris. Officials are using telescopic tunnelling to shove 800mm-wide pipes into the debris and through the wall.
Multiple pipes of various diameters will build a micro-tunnel through the expected 60-meter (197-foot) debris wall. This would allow the labourers to crawl their way out of the tunnel.
The rescue attempt has been hindered by falling trash, hard rock, and loose soil.
Continuous Efforts Amidst Challenges
Officials stated at a press briefing on Wednesday that iron rods were discovered in the detritus by rescuers during the most recent round of drilling, but that the operation was “thankfully” unaffected.
As rescue workers sifted through the debris, machinery whirred at the tunnel entrance.
Additionally, efforts are being made to communicate with the men via the alternative entrance to the tunnel.
Additionally, they had constructed a track and transported equipment to commence vertical drilling through the peak of the mountain, according to a senior official on Wednesday.
Although the duration of the operation is currently unknown, officials express confidence in their ability to rescue the men.
“We are exhausting every available option, and we are confident that we will prevail,” Col Deepak Patil, in charge of the rescue operation, told.
An official stated at the Wednesday press briefing that “good news” was anticipated to be released tonight or tomorrow. Doctors are currently on the scene and speaking with the ensnared employees, he added.
As an integral component of the federal government’s ambitious highway initiative to enhance accessibility to renowned pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand, the Silkyara tunnel is situated in the Uttarkashi district. The mountainous region, encompassing numerous Himalayan summits and glaciers, accommodates a number of the most sacred sites in Hinduism.
The adjacent region is extremely rugged and mountainous. Pedestrians encounter sizable boulders and pebbles even when traversing the perimeter.
Due to the cold, many people are wearing heavy jackets and caps and seeking warmth by a fire.
Due to its ecological fragility, the area is susceptible to landslides and earthquakes.
