Uttarkashi- Rescue operations to carry out the 40 employees trapped in an under-construction tunnel in Silkyara in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi resumed for the fifth day on Thursday as an Auger drilling machine started to function to expedite the method of digging via the particles and rescuing the individuals.
This heavy drilling machine has been introduced from Delhi to Uttarakhand by the Indian Air Force’s Hercules cargo plane.
National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) Director Anshu Manish Khalkho stated that the 25 ton heavy Auger machine drills 5 to 6 metres per hour.
If this drilling machine works properly then all of the 40 employees trapped within the tunnel might be rescued within the subsequent 10 to fifteen hours. However, the working of this machine may also rely on how far the employees are trapped contained in the tunnel.
After the set up of the Jack and Push Earth Auger machine despatched from Delhi, it has began drilling and pipe pushing. At current, the complete course of is happening satisfactorily. In case there isn’t any glitch within the rescue operation, it’s anticipated that the trapped employees can be rescued by late Thursday night or Friday.
Meanwhile, Union Minister V.Ok. Singh arrived on the tunnel on Thursday to take inventory of the rescue operation, the place he spoke to the rescue officers and tried to search out out the explanations behind the accident that happened within the tunnel.
The Minister stated that every one the 40 employees are trapped in a 2-km empty house contained in the tunnel the place there’s some mild and the authorities are sending meals and water to the trapped employees.
This new drilling machine is working extra powerfully and speedily than the older one.
On the fifth day of the tunnel collapse, Uttarakhand Director General of Police Ashok Kumar additionally reached the spot and took inventory of the state of affairs. Later, he advised the media that every one the Central and the state companies try their finest to rescue the trapped employees.
He added that every one the individuals trapped within the tunnel are fully secure.
“We all have to maintain their (trapped workers’) morale by playing a positive role. Now the Army and Air Force have also been involved in the rescue operation, ” he said.
On Tuesday night time, when the efforts being made on the state authorities degree weren’t profitable, the PMO, which was constantly monitoring the state of affairs, sprung into motion. After this, the Central authorities despatched the Jack and Push Earth Auger machine weighing 25 tonnes to Uttarkashi in two components on the IAF’s Hercules cargo plane.
Both the planes carrying the machines arrived on the Chinyalisaur airstrip and from there the administration created a ‘Green Corridor’ on the freeway from Chinyalisaur to Silkyara to rapidly transport the components of the machines.
Expert companies of Thailand and Norway have additionally been consulted to rescue the employees. Help was sought from the Thailand companies which had rescued youngsters trapped in a tunnel final yr.
At current, an Army group led by Colonel Deepak Patil can be concerned within the aid and rescue operations.
Apart from these, a group of 200 individuals is working around the clock. Soldiers and personnel of varied state companies, together with the NDRF, SDRF, native police, fireplace service, ITBP, BRO, Rail Vikas Nigam have additionally been deployed within the operation.
SDRF Commandant Manikant Mishra is on the spot for the fifth day together with native administration and police officers.
Engineer and drilling knowledgeable Aadesh Jain stated late on Wednesday night time that until November 14, particles had caved in six instances and its radius had elevated to 70 metres.
The drilling machine that was put in earlier might work solely as much as 45 metres.
According to NDRF Assistant Commander Karamveer Singh, the 4.5-km lengthy and 14-metre vast tunnel was plastered as much as 200 metres from the place to begin.