Uttarakhand News: After 12 days of being trapped inside a Uttarakhand tunnel, the rescue operation for the 41 workers is nearing its end. Despite the challenging topography and soil conditions, the rescue teams are working tirelessly to create an escape route for the workers. Though it will take at least 10 more hours before they can finally escape, there is hope that the workers will soon be reunited with their loved ones.
Key Updates of Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Operation
- Drilling through the debris to push wide pipes for the trapped workers to crawl out through is the main strategy of the rescue teams.
- Early this morning, the auger machine, which drills through about 3 meters of debris in an hour, hit a metal obstruction. To remove the block, a metal cutter was used, and the operation resumed.
- Bhaskar Khulbe, former advisor to the Prime Minister, is overseeing the challenging rescue operation at the site. He stated that an iron mesh had obstructed the drilling machine’s path. Around 10 am, he estimated that it could take up to 14 hours to complete the drilling. This time estimate should also include the time it takes to eventually get the workers out.
- As the auger machine drills through, pipes are being pushed through the debris. Another pipe is welded to the previous one once it is completely inserted. An escape route is being prepared for the trapped workers out of their long confinement in this way. Welders have been brought in from Delhi to complete the final section of the pipe. Once the drilling is finished, they will get to work.
- However, creating an exit is not sufficient. The 41 workers have been trapped for 12 days now. They have only received a few proper meals during this time after rescue teams managed to push a six-inch pipe through the debris. Despair and uncertainty about when they will be rescued have only exacerbated their physical suffering.
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Uttarakhand Tunnel Details
The tunnel, part of the government’s ambitious Char Dham project, is located between Silkyara and Dandalgaon in Uttarakhand, on the road proposed to connect Uttarkashi and Yamunotri. The 4.5 km tunnel’s construction is nearly complete.
Challenges in Escaping of Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Operation
Even crawling out will not be without its hazards. The pipes are being welded back to back, and the sharp edges at the joints could cause injuries if the workers try to crawl through quickly. There are also other obstacles, such as the temperature difference between the tunnel and the outside.
Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Plan
Rescue teams have a plan in place to mitigate these risks. Once the rescue pipe reaches the workers, a doctor with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) would go and check their condition. He would instruct them on how to crawl through the pipes. Stretchers have also been prepared, just in case they are required.
Medical Assistance for Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Operation
Outside the tunnel, 41 ambulances are on standby to transport the workers to a makeshift hospital in Chinyalisour. Rescue workers stated that once the workers arrive at the hospital, they will undergo a thorough medical examination.
Uttarakhand Tunnel Trapped Workers’ Condition
The workers were trapped in the tunnel on November 12 after a landslide. The area they are trapped in is about 8.5 meters high and 2 kilometers long. Fortunately, that part of the under-construction tunnel has electricity and water supply.
Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Operation Challenges
Over the past 12 days, the rescue operations have encountered numerous difficulties due to the Himalayan region’s topography and soil characteristics. These factors have caused frequent roadblocks and slowed the operation’s progress.
The rescue operation is in its final stages, and there is hope that the trapped workers will soon be rescued. However, there are still challenges ahead, and the rescue teams are working hard to overcome them.
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