Silkyara rescue operation delayed
Shishir Prashant
PrashantNews (2248 hours)
The rescue operation to evacuate 41 trapped workers inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkhand was delayed one more time on Friday following technical faults.
Rescuers said the auger machine which is being used to drill the debris inside the tunnel, has developed new fault even as its platform has been strengthened by way of anchoring, bolting and concreting foundations. This, they said, has delayed the drilling for time being.
This is in series of faults being developed in the auger machine which is being used to drill the tunnel from Silkyara side.
Earlier, the auger drilling machine had hit a steel girder/bar due to which the operation was halted on Wednesday evening. On Wednesday night, the rescuers managed to cut and clear the girder and other steel pieces which had come in the way of the rescue operation. Since then, rescuers have faced many hurdles in their bid to push 800 mm MS pipes inside the debris for making escape passage for the trapped workers.
Till now, 46.8 meter of MS pipes have been pushed inside the debris, said Mahmood Ahmed Union additional secretary Road, Transport and Highways and the coordinator of the rescue operation.
Now only, 10-12 odd meter of more drilling in the debris is left, said the official.
After the video of well-being of the 41 trapped workers brought cheers for their family members on Tuesday, the rescuers sent food items like khichari, rice, dal and roti for the trapped workers inside the tunnel. Earlier, the rescuers had inserted an endoscopic camera through the life support pipe to see the well-being of all the 41 workers who are trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand.
The workers, who are trapped since November 12, were seen standing inside the tunnel in good condition. A couple of these workers were also seen even expressing happiness. The photograph of Saba Ahmed, a worker, who was peeping through the pipe, also went viral. This acclaimed picture was captured by the endoscopic camera.
The trapped workers started getting more food through the bigger 6 inch pipe which was inserted on Monday. Rescuers said food and other essential items are being sent for workers regularly and they are safe. Ends