Meet Arnold Dix, Aus expert roped in for Uttarkashi tunnel rescue

It’s Day 13 and there is still no sign of relief for the 41 labourers stranded inside the two-kilometre-built portion of the under-construction Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi following a landslide.

Five agencies, namely ONGC, SJVNL, RVNL, NHIDCL, and THDCL, are collaborating on the rescue operation, which has encountered a series of setbacks in recent days.

Arnold Dix, the Australian president of the 79-nation International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association in Switzerland, is among the experts being consulted by rescuers.

While speaking to PTI on 22 November, he 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.”

“I am proud that Australia’s professor Arnold Dix is providing important technical support on the ground to help evacuate the trapped workers,” Australian High Commissioner to India Phillip Green, who is closely watching the developments, told The Hindu.

Here’s all we know about the expert.

Who is professor Arnold Dix?

Arnold Dix is widely recognised as the world’s leading expert on underground tunnelling.

As per his LinkedIn profile, he completed his schooling from Haileybury in the United Kingdom and graduated from Australia’s Monash University in combined geotechnical and engineering sciences with legal professional and corporate law.

His ability to effectively bridge the gap between the legal and technical aspects of an issue, risk assessment, or disagreement is one of his strongest suit.

Prof Dix specialises in underground and transportation infrastructure – from construction risk to more technical issues associated with actual safety performance from an operational safety perspective, according to Victorian Bar. He also provides advice on risks associated with underground construction.

His career over the three decades has seen a unique hybrid of engineering, geology, law and risk management matters.

In addition to his legal work as a barrister, he can be engaged as an investigator, expert, consultant and mediator.

He is active on all continents, being a member of the specialist Underground Works Chambers, the Victorian Bar, the British Institute of Investigators, and is also a visiting professor at engineering (tunnels) at Tokyo City University.

Prof Dix has been honoured with numerous accolades, reflecting his significant contributions to tunnel safety worldwide. In 2011, he received the Alan Neyland Australasian Tunnelling Society bi-annual award for excellence in tunnelling, specifically in tunnel fire safety. More recently, in 2022, he was honoured with a Committee Service Award by the National Fire Protection Associated of the US.

His role in the rescue operation

Prof Dix has been camped at Silkayara since 20 November to assist rescuers who are struggling to break through the fragile mountainside in an attempt to dig further tunnels for the men trapped inside.

#WATCH | On Silkyara tunnel rescue operation, International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix says, “We are only just metres away from finding passage to have the men back. But the men are safe. The auger machine has broken down, it is being repaired and it should be back up tomorrow.… pic.twitter.com/dtX8JtdU61

— ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2023

Following the tunnel collapse, Prof Dix emphasised the significance of thorough planning and safety, noting that while the current situation appears good, it still needs to be carefully evaluated in order to prevent additional dangers.

His approach emphasises the importance of carefully examining and analysing every facet of these crucial processes.

“Because we are up in the Himalayas, and the Himalayas are technically a very fresh mountain range, which means they’re falling apart,” he told the Australian Broadcast Corporation yesterday, after rescue efforts hit another setback, hitting steel girders as they tried pushing in the last pipe that would act as an escape passage.

He added, “That means when you put a tunnel through, you’ve constantly got this risk that there’s going to be a collapse and so as engineers you’re fighting that risk.”

Tunneling Expert Arnold Dix offered prayers at Temple outside tunnel.. says will bring those men back home.. pic.twitter.com/CSszfjg4QQ

— Gems of Politics (@GemsOf_Politics) November 20, 2023

While speaking to news agency PTI, Prof Dix said “We were hoping to see the workers this time yesterday, then we were hoping to see them this morning and then this afternoon. But, it looks like the mountain had different ideas. We have had to pause the auger (machine) operation at the moment and some repairs are being done to the machine. We are probably going to enter the next phase where we consider other option.

Latest update on the rescue efforts

Drilling through the rubble to prepare an escape route for the 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel was set to resume on Friday morning, an official said.

Former advisor to the prime minister’s office Bhaskar Khulbe said the operation might successfully be completed by Friday evening if everything went well, according to PTI.

Citing the data scanned by a ground penetrating radar, there is no metallic obstruction up to five metres beyond the 46 metre point through the rubble.

The drilling machine’s platform has been revamped and strengthened. Boring through the rubble with auger is likely to resume by 11.30 am, Khulbe told reporters at Silkyara.

“We have 12-14 metres more to go. And I hope if all goes well we might conclude the operation by Friday evening,” he said.

With inputs from agencies