The news of 41 laborers and their families trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarkashi has brought relief as efforts for their rescue and evacuation have intensified. According to the information, 67 percent drilling has been completed and 42 meters of horizontal pipes have been laid. The next phase of work is expected to begin in the next two hours, with positive news expected in the coming hours. Electricity and water supply is operational in the safe parts of the tunnel. The stranded workers are getting cooked food and medicines through the pipeline.
Video communication has been established with the rescue team, which has boosted the morale of the workers trapped in the tunnel. Tunnel experts are present at the site and various government agencies have been assigned specific tasks to ensure safe evacuation of the trapped persons. National and international tunnel experts are advising on the rescue operation. Jharkhand’s Joint Labor Commissioner Rajesh Prasad said that out of the 41 stranded laborers, 15 are from Jharkhand (district-Giridih, Ranchi, East Singhbhum, Khunti). A dedicated team of Jharkhand government is ready in Uttarkashi. After being successfully evacuated from the tunnel, all 15 laborers will be airlifted from Dehradun to Ranchi. The air lift has been planned after the team of doctors declares him medically fit.
#WATCH , Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | Ambulances reach the collapse site, where operation is underway to reach the 41 people trapped inside the collapsed tunnel in Silkyara. pic.twitter.com/Iq5WXKIqHS
— ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2023
Rescue efforts are continuing at many levels. A communication system with wire connectivity has been developed by the rescue teams to facilitate clear communication with the workers trapped in the tunnel. Meanwhile, to save the workers, another horizontal boring has been started by Silkyara, in which 42 meters of pipe has already been inserted. Vertical drilling work is being done by SJEVNL. Rescue efforts are being made at many levels. It is noteworthy that a part of Silkyara tunnel on Chardham Yatra route in Uttarkashi district had collapsed on November 12, due to which workers on the other side were trapped. Rescue operations are being conducted on war footing to rescue them.