Uttarkashi tunnel collapse | Drilling to create passage for trapped workers to resume soon, labourers safe

Rescue efforts for 40 workers trapped in collapsed tunnel to resume soon with new heavy machine. Supplies of oxygen, electricity, medicines, food and water are being provided. Installation of machine almost complete, 95% done. 6-bed hospital and 10 ambulances with doctors outside tunnel for medical care. Prime Minister and various agencies supporting effort.

Drilling to create a passage for 40 workers trapped in an under-construction tunnel that collapsed four days back will resume soon with a new heavy machine, which was flown in from Delhi, officials said in New Delhi.

The labourers are safe, and oxygen, electricity, medicines, food items and water are being constantly supplied to them through pipes, they said.

The ‘American auger’ machine was airlifted in parts by three IAF transport aircraft on November 15 to replace the “failed” equipment which was being used earlier to create the passage. These were then brought from Uttarakhand’s Chinyalisaur airport, over 30 kilometres from the Silkyara tunnel on the Char Dham route, and assembled at the site. Installation of the heavy equipment is almost complete and drilling will resume soon, the officials said. The process of installing the new machine began at 11 p.m. on Nov. 15.

“Our priority is to get the workers out in the soonest. All efforts are underway to this end. From the Prime Minister to various agencies, everyone is supporting this effort”, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Gen. V.K. Singh (retd.) said.

Speaking to reporters in Uttarkashi, Mr. Singh said, “The machine we got at the beginning of the rescue led to falling debris, so to avoid greater danger we used another machine which faced issues. A new machine with faster speed and greater power is in place.”

“This should be done in 2-3 days, but could be done earlier too. We were keeping an outer bound in case issues come up. We’re taking all technical help from railway, mining agencies. The workers’ morale is high, they are aware that the government is doing all it can to get them out,” Mr. Singh added.