Uttarkashi rescue work: 2nd pipe installed to deliver food & medicines, ‘6 plans in progress’

Union minister Nitin Gadkari & Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami visit site Sunday to assess situation. Gadkari expresses hope of rescuing workers within two to two-and-a-half days.

A JCB prepares makeshift road to faciliate construction of a platform for vertical drilling in order to rescue the workers trapped inside the collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

FALGUNI SHARMA, THE PRINT, 20 November, 2023, Uttarkashi: Forty-one labourers remain trapped inside the collapsed Silkayara tunnel for the ninth day, with vertical drilling work yet to begin at the site to extricate them.

In some hope for the trapped labourers, another pipe, larger than the first, was installed horizontally Sunday evening to provide cooked food and medicines to them from outside. 

The rescue mission — on pause since Friday after a second specialised auger machine airlifted from Delhi broke down — also resumed Sunday evening. A section of the under-construction tunnel, a part of the Centre’s ambitious Char Dham project connecting Uttarkashi and Yamunotri, collapsed last Sunday due to a landslide. 

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami arrive at the disaster site | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the site on Sunday to assess the situation. They conducted a meeting with officials and met with the families of the stranded workers. 

In a press briefing, Gadkari mentioned that six plans are currently in progress and expressed hope that success will be achieved soon. “If the auger machine works properly, we will be able to reach them (victims) in the next 2 to 2.5 days,” he said.

Private tunnel experts affiliated with different organisations in the region are actively participating in the rescue operation, he said, adding that a team from America and Switzerland has been called for assistance.

Later, Road, Transport and Highways secretary Anurag Jain gave insight into the rescue efforts. “In addition to five options, there is an action plan. We are addressing the areas declared unsafe where we had previously halted work due to earth movement. We will construct a canopy and resume work, ensuring all necessary safety measures,” he added.

The government has made the decision to engage on all fronts to rescue the trapped labourers in the Silkyara tunnel, prioritising the preservation of precious lives.

Senior officials, including those from the PMO, who visited the site on Saturday, remain stationed in Silkyara. “Experts recommend that instead of relying on one plan, we should concurrently pursue five plans to expedite reaching the trapped workers,” stated Bhaskar Khulbe, former advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office.

Khulbe expressed hope that the workers could potentially be rescued in four to five days. “But if the Gods are kind enough, it could happen even earlier than that.”

Prayers & encouragement

As per Jain, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and NHIDCL were allocated a specific option in the rescue plan.

Gadkari mentioned that essential supplies such as food, medicine, and oxygen are being delivered through pipes to the trapped individuals. Additionally, efforts are in progress to establish a second alternative supply line to address any potential emergency in the primary line. 

A three inch pipe has been sent 42 metres inside the tunnel pipe to provide food and other essentials to the trapped workers, he said.

Side-by-side, rescue personnel have also now turned to faith, seeking ‘divine grace’ at the request of villagers. On Saturday, PMO Deputy Secretary Mangesh Ghildiyal sought blessings for the success of the operation at the temple outside the tunnel.

A priest applies ’tilak’ to people involved in rescue of workers trapped inside the collapsed tunnel | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

A day later, the temple priest applied ‘tilak’ to all the officials and labourers heading to rescue work at the site. 

‘Director has abandoned us’

Emphasising the challenging geology and terrain in the Himalayas, Gadkari urged people not to jump to hasty conclusions about the incident. “It will take some time to ascertain the technical reasons. We are working diligently, so please cooperate with us to boost the morale of the workers and refrain from drawing any premature conclusions.”

Medicines were provided to the trapped workers through the 4-inch opening, he said to a media query.”A psychologist will also be appointed for the families to provide encouragement during this challenging time.”

Jain mentioned that there is water and electricity available in the tunnel. 

But, workers were discontent with the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, alleging that the NHIDCL is merely conducting ”experiments”. Throughout the day, the workers attempted to encircle the security barricade, expressing frustration. “NHIDCL is only experimenting here,” one of them said.

“These people are digging sometimes from above, sometimes from below…They are not getting the work done straightforward,”a labourer from Jharkhand told ThePrint.

Grave allegation 

Praveen Jyara, a local from Ginauti village, told ThePrint that digging is happening at Radi Top, that means soft rock. The NHIDCL knows that the mountain will not be able to withstand blasts, but it was done regularly, he said.

ThePrint has learned that a new Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project will be prepared. 

Workers at the site of the collapsed tunnel in Uttarkashi | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

In the meantime, drilling work has gained momentum since Saturday with labourers along with the workers of the BERNARD Gruppe carrying out work at war level. The German company had provided detailed design services, including tunnel construction  and associated infrastructure,  to the local construction company, Navayuga, for the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel project in Uttarakhand.

At the disaster site, Jain stated that the NHIDCL managing director was assigned the responsibility of coordinating with all the central agencies and was stationed in Silkyara. “The Uttarakhand government has appointed chief secretary Neeraj Khairwal as the nodal officer for coordination. All the agencies have deployed senior officers at the site,” he added.

(Edited by Tony Rai)