Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: 4 ambulances stationed at Silkyara Tunnel site, over 35 more expected to arrive soon

As the rescue operations have intensified at the Silkyara tunnel collapse site in Uttarkashi where 41 workers remain trapped, about 67 per cent augur drilling has been completed with horizontal pipe being inserted up to 45 metres, an official statement said on Wednesday.

Former advisor to the Prime Minister's Office, Bhaskar Khulbe on Wednesday said that work for the next phase will start in another two hours.

Khulbe who is also the Special Executive Officer in the Uttarakhand Tourism Department, said, "I am very happy to tell you that with the work we were doing for the last 1 hour, we have drilled another 6-meter length with an American Oger machine. I am hopeful that in the next 2 hours, work will start for the next phase."

The official announcement of laying a 39-meter pipeline was made in the earlier press conference.

With 6 meters of additional pipeline, the total work of laying the pipeline up to 45 meters has been completed.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Prime Minister's Office Bhaskar Khulbe said, "If there are no obstacles, some big news may be received tonight or tomorrow morning. An iron rod has also come along with the debris. It is a matter of happiness that this iron in the middle of laying the pipeline did not create any problems for us."

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Micro tunnelling expert, Chris Cooper said, “We are quite positive that we will get success. You can't specify that (how much time it will take to reach the stuck workers), it could be two days, could be a week. These sort of things are unpredictable.”

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: NHIDCL official, Mahmood Ahmed said, “We started drilling using auger machine at 12:45 am and I am happy to share that we have drilled 39 metres and also inserted pipe of 800mm. We are progressing well. We are also doing horizontal drilling from Barkot side and have entered till 7.9 metres”.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said, "The auger machine is working today. I am hopeful that all the workers will come out safely."

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Ambulance staff member, Harish Prasad said, "All arrangements have been made such as oxygen cylinders and masks, stretcher, BP equipment, all machines and facilities are here...A demand for 40-41 ambulances was forwarded"

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Ambulance Driver, Naveen said, "Four ambulances have been stationed so far and 35-36 ambulances will be here soon that have been sent from Dehradun, Haridwar and Tehri...Four hours before the rescue operation begins, all the ambulances will be lined up here...A total of 40 ambulances will be lined up here."

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: 4 ambulances have been stationed at Silkyara Tunnel site, more ambulances will be arriving shortly, reported official.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: A BRO worker, Lacchu Raut informed ANI, "Light machinery was moved up yesterday. The work of building a road on the hill above the tunnel is being completed. Today we will repair the road and make sure that there is no difficulty in moving the machines to the tunnel site."

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: L&T Safety Head, Nigel said, "The current situation is that they are drilling a way....Hopefully, they are going to break through... It looks like it is going to happen….. We are also assisting with the micro-tunneling as well... The job has to be done correctly and in a systematic way."

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Uttarkashi District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela and former advisor to Prime Minister's Office, Bhaskar Khulbe arrived at Silkyara Tunnel site where 41 workers are trapped.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: International tunneling expert Arnold Dix said, “I just want 41 men home to their families and I don't want any of you hurt. My feeling is we are going to get that. My feeling is we are going to get 41 men home and none of you guys hurt as well.”

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Border Roads Organisation, Major Naman Narula said, "Around 1,200 metres of road has been constructed. Two drilling machine vehicles have also reached the tunnel site. We have constructed the track within 48 hours."

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: In a soacial media post on X, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami reported that he received a call from PM Modi who enquired about the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue efforts. He also seeked information about provision of food and medicines to the trapped workers at Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Vikram Singh Yeri,brother of a worker stuck inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi said his brother, Pushkar Singh Yeri, gave the message, 'I am good. You people go home. I will come.'

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Member of the National Disaster Management Authority, Lt General (Rtd) Syed Ata Hasnain said, “The government has made sure that wherever we have knowledge of experts, those experts have flown in and are available for advice. There is ample space inside where the workers are trapped. Survival rations, medicine and other essentials are being pushed through a compressor into the space where these workers are trapped.”

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: General physician P S Pokhriyal informed that electrolyte powder packets, multivitamin tablets and anti-depressants are being sent to trapped workers in Silkyara tunnel.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: A doctor who had a talk with the trapped workers through the new pipeline reported that some of them complained of a burning sensation while passing urine.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: A machine to be used in rescue operation of trapped workers was stuck on the way on Tuesday due to narrow road. It reached the Silkyara tunnel site today and will facilitate in proceeding further with the operation.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: To reach the two-kilometre built-up stretch where the workers are confined, “second-best” option involves drilling more than 80 metres vertically from above the tunnel. International Ttunnel Expert Arnold Dix said vertical drilling demanded precision and pointed out that while drilling from the top could even lead to missing the tunnel due to a small fail in precision.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Additional secretary of NDMA, Mahmood Ahmed said progress from the 22-metre point to the 45-metre mark will be the most critical. He further said that it will take 30 to 40 hours to rescue trapped workers if drilling goes smoothly.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Retired additional director general of the Geological Survey of India, Tribhuwan Singh Pangti informed PTI that safety norms were ignored during the construction of Silkyari tunnel. He also said that horizontal drilling was safer. 

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: On Monday mobile chargers were sent inside the collapsed section of Silkyara Tunnel and a 6-inch pipe was also laid through which solid food was sent to trapped workers. 

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Road and Transport Technical Secretary, Mahmood Ahmed said 800 mm-diameter pipes are being pushed using telescoping method, reported ANI. He said, "Four 900-mm-diameter pipes of 6 metres each were pushed to 21-22 metres last week before they hit an obstacle. Now we have decided that we will lay an 800-mm-diameter pipe through the telescoping method. We have started that work. After that, we will do further drilling inside it with the American Auger machine. For us, the entire day until tomorrow from tonight on is most important."

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: An official assisting in the rescue operations on the site informed that a walkie-talkie was sent inside the Silkyara tunnel through the 6-inch pipeline that was laid on Monday. Hence, communication was established with the trapped men. He added, “We also got a video showing that all of them are in good mental and physical health.”

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Jaidev who is one of the trapped workers while speaking to tunnel supervisor gave a message for his mother and said, "Maa, tension koroni aami thik achi. Time a kheye nebe. Babakeo time a kheye nite bolbe (Mother, do not worry about me, I am fine. Please you and father eat your meals on time)."

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Padma-awarded artist Sudarsan Pattnaik created a sand art at Puri beach in Odisha dedicated to trapped workers trapped in Silkyara tunnel at Uttarkashi.  His art also conveys the message, "Let the light of prayers take away the darkness."

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Doctors recommended Khichdi and Dalia for the trapped workers that could not be delivered on Monday as the 6-inch pipe was blocked. Director of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), Anshu Manish Khulko informed, "We have cleaned the pipe," He also said that today fruits like oranges, bananas and medicines were sent to the trapped workers. For dinner, the workers received solid food items such as veg pulao and matar paneer.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: "If everything goes right, we will come up with some 'good news' in the next 40 hours," Additional Secretary Technical, Road and Transport Mahmood Ahmed said, according to ANI. "We are doing the horizontal drilling from the other (Barkot) side and the work has been assigned to Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC)," he added.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: "The government has made sure that wherever we have knowledge of experts, those experts have flown in and are available for advice. There is ample space inside where the workers are trapped. Survival rations, medicine and other essentials are being pushed through a compressor into the space where these workers are trapped," member of National Disaster Management Authority, Lt General (Rtd) Syed Ata Hasnain said.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: “There are lights and an electricity supply inside. There is a place up to 2km inside as the tunnel was already built. From the 4-inch pipeline, we were sending dry fruits and other eatables. Through the 6-inch pipeline, we sent a walkie-talkie inside and established communication... We also got a video showing that all of them are in good mental and physical health,” Additional Secretary Technical, Road and Transport Mahmood Ahmed said.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: “There is sufficient water, oxygen power and light inside the tunnel. A few families of the trapped workers have been transported there. Contact with the state administrations from where the workers belong has been going on. Some of the families of workers have been able to talk to the trapped workers through the 4-inch pipe that has been installed...Our focussed effort is on horizontal drilling through the auger machine which has been brought from outside,” said Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain, Member of the National Disaster Management Authority.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: Focus is on horizontal drilling to rescue trapped workers in Uttarkashi tunnel, an official was reported as saying.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: The 41 workers trapped inside the tunnel are tried to be rescued through the Barkot side, reports siad, adding that 2 km of tunnel has already been made as part of the rescue operation.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: "This is a national effort. The first and the top most priority is the safety of the people stuck inside the tunnel. The rescue efforts are being monitored from the top level and we are getting all the support required," says Sushma Rawat, Director - Exploration, ONGC on Uttarkashi tunnel rescue.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued an advisory to television channels to refrain from sensationalizing the ongoing rescue operation underway at Silkyara, Uttarakhand and from undertaking any live posts/videos from close proximity of the tunnel site where the rescue operations are underway, and ensure that the human life saving activity by the various agencies is in no way disrupted or disturbed by the very presence of cameramen, reporters or equipment near or around the operations site.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: The insertion of a six-inch pipeline, through which communication was established with the trapped workers, is a major breakthrough and an encouraging sign, said Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Uttarkashi tunnel collapse LIVE Updates: “Action will definitely be taken against all suspicions but right now the priority is for all workers to come out safely,” Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said.

“We're fine here,” said one of the trapped workers.

Family members of workers stuck inside the Silkyara tunnel have interacted with them via a pipe inserted through the rubble.

International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix says, "Works are being done to get the new 6-inch lifeline pipe fully functioning. The works are being done for the augering of the evacuation tunnel, which is being drilled as well. The works are also being done to create safe places within the tunnel. This is still an extremely dangerous environment, so we're making it safe for the rescuers in there as well. There are technical issues in there now but these issues will be there till the men are rescued. My next job is to go up on top of the mountain, to the side of the mountain, back of the mountain and check the progress there as well. The American auger machine is not working right now, it's in preparation...Augering requires very precise engineering because if we get it wrong, it could cause an avalanche..."

Efforts to rescue trapped 41 workers in the ongoing Silkyara tunnel collapse received a brief setback when the piling machine being transported for the rescue operation got stuck due to the narrow road leading to the spot, ANI reported.

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, "All agencies, engineers, technicians, and experts are working on it. With their hard work, food is now being sent through the six-inch pipeline. This is encouraging for us. We pray to God for the rescue operation to conclude at the earliest and for all our workers to come out safely. PM is collecting details every day and providing all possible help to us. I gave all the details to the PM today..."

International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association president Arnold Dix, who has been roped in as part of the ongoing rescue efforts at the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse site, on Tuesday said he was absolutely sure that the 41 trapped workers will come home soon.

Speaking to ANI, from the site of the tunnel Professor Dix said the rescuers have several options to bring home the workers.

"I think the team here have done a wonderful job. It's just fantastic. The 900 pipeline is one of the options. The 900 pipe which is there, which I've seen, and I'm going to go have another look at this morning. It's by far the best and fastest means to get the men, but it has its technical difficulties and that's why we're doing multiple rescue missions," Dix told ANI.

On the tenth day of rescue operations at the Silkyara tunnel collapse site in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, a significant milestone was achieved after an endoscopic flexi camera was successfully inserted into the collapsed section.

Visuals from the special camera facilitated the first interaction with the trapped workers. The endoscopic camera is mainly used for minimally invasive medical procedures. Doctors use this to check interior organs for diagnosis and treatment. Here the rescue teams are using a flexi endoscopic camera. The flexible wire allows the device to move along the shape of the pipeline. (ANI)