Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: Manual drilling to start shortly, says NDMA

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday said that manual drilling will start soon with the help of Indian Army engineers, rat miners, and other technicians in addition to the ongoing top-down drilling to rescue the 41 trapped workers in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi.

Giving an update on the rescue operations, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Member Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain told reporters, “The broken blades of the auger machine have been fully retrieved. There were some obstacles while retrieving the broken part, but the damage has been fixed. Now, the manual technique will be employed by tonight with the help of Indian Army engineers, rat miners, and other technicians,” says Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, NDMA member on Uttarakhand tunnel rescue operation.

VIDEO | Uttarkashi tunnel rescue UPDATE: “The broken blades of the auger machine have been fully retrieved. There were some obstacles while retrieving the broken part, but the damage has been fixed. Now, the manual technique will be employed by tonight with the help of Indian… pic.twitter.com/UCtDORw0YG

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 27, 2023

He said that around 32 metres of vertical drilling has been done by SVNL.

“Around 32 metres of vertical drilling has been done by SVNL. RVNL is working on another pipeline which will become a vertical ‘lifeline’ and it has been inserted up to 75 metres. The estimated depth is around 86 metres,” said Hasnain.

Manual drilling was resorted to as the auger drill – a corkscrew-like device with a rotary blade at the front end – which drilled up to 46.8 metres busted as it hit several hurdles on the way and got entangled in a girder in the debris.

Vertical and manual horizontal drilling are the two methods on which rescue efforts are being focused at the moment. Work on the other options, such as horizontal drilling from the Barkot end of the tunnel is also underway.

A total of 86 metres have to be drilled vertically to prepare an escape passage. Pipes of 1.2 metres in diameter have to be laid vertically through the top of the tunnel on which work began on Sunday as a second option to reach the stranded labourers.

Hasnain further said the government is fully committed to the safe rescue of all the 41 workers who have been trapped in the tunnel since 12 November.

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain, Member, NDMA, says, “…Safety is being focused a lot… As per a meteorological report, a yellow alert is there from IMD… which means light rains can occur… But there is no… pic.twitter.com/Kp5TKzKhgK

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2023

“…Safety is being focused a lot… As per a meteorological report, a yellow alert is there from IMD… which means light rains can occur… But there is no possibility that work will be hindered because of this… I want to once again give assurance that all the stranded workers will be rescued…,” said Hasnain.

He said that things are under control and food and medicines are being supplied inside the tunnel as per requirements.

“…Things are under control… Food and medicine are going inside as per requirements… Psychological aspects are also given importance…Backup communications have been established…,” he added.

Hasnain said both private and public agencies are involved in the rescue operations.

NHAI member Vishal Chauhan said that a team of six members will work in groups of three to facilitate the manual drilling.

“…Manual drilling is about to start… There will be a team of six members who will work in groups of three… There are sensors to monitor movement inside the earth…,” he added.

Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary PK Mishra, Home Secretary Ajay K Bhalla and Uttarakhand Chief Secretary S S Sandhu also took stock of the ongoing rescue operations.

With inputs from agencies