Tag: Uttarkashi

Silkyara tunnel Uttarkashi

J’khand To Airlift 15 Workers Of Silkyara Tunnel To Ranchi Tomorrow

By LokMarg

Fifteen labourers from Jharkhand who were rescued from Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi will be airlifted to Delhi on Thursday and from there to Ranchi on Friday morning.

They will fly to Ranchi from New Delhi as there is no direct flight between Dehradun with a sopover at Jharkhand Bhawan.

After medical screening of the labourers trapped in the tunnel accident in Uttarkashi is going on at AIIMS Rishikesh, all the labourers can be discharged very soon, after which all the labourers will be sent to their destination, a Jharkhand government official said while talking to ANI.

“15 labourers from Jharkhand would be sent to Delhi by 7.45 pm flight and then they would be made to stay at Jharkhand Bhawan for the night, after which they would be taken from Delhi to Ranchi by a morning flight the next day and will be dropped at their destination,” the Jharkhand official added.

The workers who were rescued from the Silkyara tunnel were brought to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, for further medical examination on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, after the 41 trapped workers were brought out safely from the under-construction Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, bringing to an end an ordeal that spanned over two weeks, their relieved kin on Wednesday celebrated ‘Igas Bagwal’ at the residence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in Dehradun.

‘Igas Bagwal’ is a popular festival in Uttarakhand, celebrated 11 days after Diwali.

While the festival was marked on Wednesday, the festivities for the loved ones of the trapped workers, who had been spending sleepless nights worrying over the fates, started on Tuesday itself following their safe rescue.

Family members and friends of the 41 workers, who were safely pulled out from a portion of the tunnel, that collapsed on November 12, burst into celebrations after word of their rescue reached them.

Many of them, who had been following the tense rescue operation on television over a couple of weeks, broke into unbridled joy and even burst crackers after their loved ones finally saw light at the end of the tunnel.

Significantly, the portion of the tunnel on the Silkyara side collapsed on the day of Diwali, November 12, confining them in the dark during the Festival of Lights. A part of the tunnel they were building gave way, blocking their only exit with more than 60 metres of broken rock, concrete and twisted metal. (ANI)

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Uttarkashi tunnel

Uttarkashi: Chinook Helicopter At Chinyalisaur Airstrip To Airlift Workers

By LokMarg

With the crucial work of laying pipes in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi completed, a temporary medical facility has been expanded inside the tunnel as part of rescue efforts to bring out 41 trapped workers.

The medical facility has been expanded for workers who will be evacuated. In case of any problem, eight beds have been arranged by the Health Department. A team of doctors and experts has been deployed.

All arrangements have been made to provide requisite medical attention to labourers after they are evacuated.

A Chinook helicopter has been kept ready at the Chinyalisaur airstrip to airlift the workers after their rescue from the Silkyara tunnel.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami earlier announced that work of laying pipes in the tunnel has been completed. The task, which faced several hurdles, was completed seventeen days after the workers were trapped in the under-construction tunnel.

“With the blessing of Baba Baukh Nag Ji, prayers of crores of countrymen and the tireless work of the rescue teams engaged in the rescue operation, the work of laying pipes in the tunnel to take out the workers has been completed. Soon all the labourers will be taken out,” CM Dhami said in a post on X.

Akshet Katyaal, MD, Accurate Concrete Solutions, said there are three-four phases of rescue operation.

“The pipe has been pushed inside very cautiously without any hurdle, a breakthrough has been achieved and the pipe has passed through. The work to rescue labourers has started. There are at least 3-4 phases in the rescue operation…Teams of NDRF have entered inside. The labourers will be taken out once the ramp is made,” he said.

Garlands have been brought to the Silkyara tunnel rescue site in anticipation of the rescue of 41 trapped workers.

Preparations have also been made at Community Health Centre Chinyalisaur for the medical treatment of 41 workers.

Family members of the trapped workers said they were happy over the breakthrough.

“We will welcome them in a nice way. We told them that the rescue team would reach them soon,” a family member of a trapped worker said.

The mother of one of the workers said she is looking forward to meet her son.

“It has been 17 days since my son has been trapped. I will be very happy when my son arrives.

Ambulances, NDRF personnel, SDRF and several other agencies have been deployed at the entrance of the tunnel.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the ongoing rescue and relief efforts from Uttarakhand Chief Minister.

PM Modi enquired about the well-being of the trapped workers and instructed the Chief Minister to ensure their safety, along with those involved in rescue operations.

The relatives of the 41 trapped labourers have been asked to be prepared and keep the clothes and bags of the workers ready, sources said.

A portion of the tunnel caved in on November 12, the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel, trapping 41 labourers inside the under-construction structure. (ANI)

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Uttarkashi

8M Progress Through Vertical Drilling: Uttarkashi

By LokMarg

With vertical drilling underway to further aid the rescue of the trapped workers in Silkyara tunnel, the rescuers managed to make progress over a distance of 8 metres down the ground in the last one and a half hours.

According to official sources, drilling of up to 8 metres has been completed in the last one and a half years, and currently, the work to lay a 900-mm pipeline is being undertaken.

Vertical drilling, one of the several chalked-out options to bring out 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel, started on Sunday afternoon.

Two locations were identified for the vertical drilling, and both are on the Silkyara side of the high-altitude under-construction tunnel, a portion of which caved in on November 12.

SJVN, a public sector undertaking company involved in hydroelectric power generation and transmission, has just started vertical drilling work on the top of the tunnel atop the hill, the 15th day of continued rescue efforts.

As a second option, vertical drilling work has also been started in another part on top of the tunnel to create rescue space for workers trapped. This portion of the tunnel has access to electricity and water.

Multiple agencies are working on the rescue efforts. In the latest, the Indian Air Force has also joined in as it flew critical DRDO equipment to Dehradun.

On Tuesday, rescuers managed to insert an endoscopy camera into the tunnel. The first visuals captured on that device showed the trapped workers had ample space inside the tunnel for them to move around.

The visuals gave new hope to worried relatives, some of whom were camping outside the site of the collapsed tunnel structure.

Meanwhile, international tunnelling expert Arnold Dix, who has roped in the rescue project, said on Sunday that there was no chance of any further collapse in the area where the incident took place.

“It may have been an unusual situation occurring here where the class of rock changes. It has to be investigated. The area that collapsed hadn’t collapsed before; it wasn’t even given any clue that it was going to collapse before. So, it is a part of the challenge for us–what is it about the ground here, this mountain that caught us on the back foot,” he said.

Also, as part of efforts to relieve the stress and anxiety of the workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has stepped in to provide them with a landline through which they can talk to their families. (ANI)

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Uttarkashi

Uttarkashi Rescue Ops Halted Due To Technical Glitch

By LokMarg

The Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation of the 41 workers trapped in a portion of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, which collapsed over a week ago, has been put on hold again after a technical glitch was faced by the rescue team on Friday evening.

The drilling by the American-made auger machine to rescue the trapped workers was halted after the rescue team faced a technical glitch.

Meanwhile, talking about the drone technology that is being used in the rescue operation, Cyriac Joseph, MD and CEO of Squadrone Infra Mining Pvt Ltd, said that this is a new technology that goes into GPS-denied areas.

“This is a new technology, it goes into GPS-denied areas and is used in underground tunnels and underground mines. It has been introduced in India recently. Our target is to determine how we can rescue the 41 trapped workers and how quickly we can do it. The safety of the rescue team is also important,” Joseph said.

Earlier in the day, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami informed that the rescue operation to extricate 41 workers trapped in a portion of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi is “in its final stage,” adding that both the central and state government agencies are working together.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking all the updates regarding the rescue operation being carried out at the Silkyara tunnel.

“The rescue operation is in its last stage. PM Modi is taking all the updates about the difficulties that workers might face and discussing the solutions. Both the central and state government agencies are working together on the rescue operation. We hope that soon this operation will be completed and all the workers will come out,” CM Dhami said.

Meanwhile, Additional Secretary Technical, Road and Transport Mahmood Ahmed on Friday said that the auger drilling machine, which developed some cracks on Thursday, has been reassembled and they hope to push the pipe further this time with no obstacles.

“The auger drilling machine has been reassembled. A new pipe will be put in after the welding, which will take two hours. After two hours, we will push the pipe inside the tunnel. We hope that we push the pipe further this time and will face no obstacles,” Additional Secretary Ahmed said.

When asked about the total length of the pipe that has been inserted to rescue the workers, Additional Secretary Ahmed said that two more pipes of 6 metres each have to be inserted to get a breakthrough.

“Two more pipes of 6 metres each have to be inserted. The first 6 metres, which reach 51-52 metres, with the next 6 meter-long pipe, we hope to breakthrough,” he said.

“This is our own estimation and understanding. These estimations are based on certain realities but they are all assumptions and not to be taken exactly, but we hope to be there someway,” he added.

Earlier, Bhaskar Khulbe, a former advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), said a 2-metre part of the inserted pipe had to be cut off as it got compressed due to friction while drilling. This happened after the auger heavy-duty driller encountered an obstruction and exerted more pressure on Thursday, he informed.

Speaking to ANI on Friday morning, Khulbe said the platform on which the Augur drilling machine was mounted developed some cracks on Thursday. However, the cracks have been repaired since informed.

The platform developed some cracks while the rescue operation was underway on Thursday and the process of horizontal drilling through the debris had to be halted as a result.

“Last night, we had to revamp the platform on which the machine is mounted. However, Parsons Company operated a ground penetration radar, which told us that there was no metallic obstruction for the next 5 metres (inside the tunnel). This means that our drilling, once it resumes, should be smooth. When we were removing the debris, we came upon two mangled pipes,” Khulbe said, adding that the trapped workers may be extricated by Friday.

The rescue work continues as a portion of the under-construction tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot collapsed on November 12. The debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel trapped 41 labourers inside.

The workers are trapped in a 2 km-built portion, which is complete, including concrete work that provides them safety. (ANI)

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The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

Uttarkashi: NDRF Demonstrates Movement Of Wheeled Stretchers Through Pipeline

By LokMarg

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel on Friday carried out a demonstration of the movement of wheeled stretchers through the pipeline inserted to extricate 41 workers trapped in a portion of the Silkyara tunnel of Uttarkashi, which collapsed over a week ago.

The ongoing efforts to rescue the workers, who have been trapped for the last 12 days after a portion of the under-construction tunnel on the Char Dham route collapsed on November 12, cutting off its exit, is said to be on its last legs.

NDRF personnel, who went inside the pipeline for the demo, said they did not experience any breathing problems during the exercise and could move out comfortably.

Bhaskar Khulbe, a former advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), said a 2-metre part of the inserted pipe had to be cut off as it got compressed due to friction while drilling. This happened after the auger heavy-duty driller encountered an obstruction and exerted more pressure on Thursday, he informed.

Speaking to ANI on Friday morning, Khulbe said the platform on which the Augur drilling machine was mounted developed some cracks on Thursday.

However, the cracks have been repaired since, he informed.

The 25-tonne platform, on which the heavy American Auger machine is mounted, has been strengthened using an accelerating agent for the rapid hardening of concrete, and rescue operations are expected to resume shortly, the former advisor to the PMO informed.

The platform developed some cracks whilst the rescue operation was underway on Thursday and the process of horizontal drilling through the debris had to be halted as a result.

“Last night, we had to revamp the platform on which the machine is mounted. However, Parsons Company operated a ground penetration radar, which told us that there is no metallic obstruction for the next 5 metres (inside the tunnel). This means that our drilling, once it resumes, should be smooth. When we were removing the debris, we came upon two mangled pipes,” Khulbe said, adding that the trapped workers may be extricated by Friday.

As a portion of the under-construction tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot collapsed on November 12, the debris falling in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel trapped 41 labourers inside.

The workers are trapped in a 2 km-built portion, which is complete, including concrete work that provides them safety. (ANI)

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Uttarkashi

Big News Expected In Next 24-Hrs: Uttarkashi Tunnel Officials

By LokMarg

264 hours after the 41 workers were trapped after a tunnel collapsed at Slikyara in Uttarkashi, rescue operations continue. Officials supervising the rescue operation believe they are close to making a critical breakthrough.

Additional Secretary Technical, Road and Transport Mahmood Ahmed said on Wednesday that some big news is expected in the next 24 hours as an additional 880-millimeter pipe has also been pushed 21 metres through the rubble to free 41 workers.

The official said since Tuesday night they have pushed three more pipes, reaching 40-50 metres through horizontal drilling inside the tunnel.

At a press conference with the former advisor to the Prime Minister’s Office Bhaskar Khulbe held at the mouth of the tunnel, Ahmad said, “An additional 800 mm pipe has also been pushed 21 metres inside the tunnel”.

The official said that around 12:45 am, “They started drilling through the auger machine” and so far, “we have pushed through three more pipes…”

“As long as we reach 45-50 metres inside the tunnel, we will not be able to give you the exact time. We are also doing horizontal drilling, we have entered around 8 metres from there as well…,” he said.

He added: “If there are no obstacles, some big news may be received tonight or tomorrow morning. An iron rod has also come along with the debris. It is a matter of happiness that this iron in the middle of laying the pipeline did not create any problems for us…”

A total of five agencies– ONGC, SJVNL, RVNL, NHIDCL, and THDCL– have been assigned specific responsibilities to evacuate the 41 labourers trapped for 10 days in the 2-km-built portion of the under-construction structure following a landslide.

The collapse occurred on November 12 during the construction of a tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot, trapping 41 labourers due to a muck fall in a 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel.

On Tuesday morning, rescuers managed to insert an endoscopy camera into the tunnel and the first visuals captured showed the 41 workers had ample space inside the tunnel for them to move about.

Visuals of workers trapped inside for the past 10 days emerged on Tuesday morning, has given new hope to worried relatives, some of whom are camping outside the site of the collapsed tunnel structure (ANI)

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Silkyara-Barkot tunnel Uttarkashi

Communication Established, All Trapped Labourers Safe: Uttarkashi Tunnel

By LokMarg

Amid the continuing rescue operation, all workers, who were trapped after a portion of an under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi collapsed days back, are safe, an official informed on Tuesday.

Uttarkashi Chief Development Officer Gaurav Kumar said communication with the trapped workers was established at 10 am on Tuesday.

Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Kumar said, “I went inside the tunnel a short while back. We have established communication with the trapped workers and are in constant touch with them. Communication with them was established at 10 am today. We can confirm that all are safe and sound. We are ensuring a continuous supply of food, water and oxygen to the workers and the CMO (chief medical officer) has also arranged for some medicines. We are catering to their basic needs. The rescue operation is also progressing satisfactorily and we are in the process of inserting (steel) pipes (into the collapsed portion of the tunnel to rescue the trapped workers). We are making good progress and are hopeful of bringing them out safely soon.”

The 4,531-metre-long Silkyara Tunnel is being constructed at a cost of Rs 853.79 crore.

A portion of the under-construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed in the early hours of November 12, entrapping 40 labourers.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government constituted a six-member expert committee to probe the cause of the collapse.

Rescuers are in the process of inserting large-diameter steel pipes into the debris-filled tunnel using an auger drilling machine in a bid to create a passage through which the workers could be brought out safely. (ANI)

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Uttarkashi

40 Workers Trapped In Uttarkashi Under-Construction Tunnel Collapse

By LokMarg

Rescue operations at the site of the collapsed under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi have entered Day 2. Forty workers are trapped inside the tunnel, even as rescue teams manage to breach 15 metres into the tunnel.

Rescuers say the teams still have to clear about 35 metres of debris more to reach the location of the 40 trapped workers. The rescuers have been able to establish communication with the trapped workers.

Prashant Kumar, Circle Officer of Uttarkashi told ANI “The debris is about 60 meters deep. As we are clearing the debris, it is falling from above. The present situation is, that yesterday we established communication with the people trapped inside the tunnel. We have moved around 15 metres inside the tunnel, and around 35 metres are still to be covered. Everyone is safe, we have provided oxygen and water to them. We are making our way sideways to go inside the tunnel. After establishing communication, around 40 people are trapped inside.”

NDRF teams says that snacks and water have been given to the workers trapped inside, and they hope that by this evening they will breach the debris and rescue the workers.

” We have managed to give the trapped workers some chips and water. We can confirm that the workers are in a safe position. The rescue operation has been continuing, we hope that by this evening we will breach the debris and reach the site of the trapped workers to rescue them. At that section the plaster work wasn’t complete which is why the tunnel collapsed” Karmaveer Singh Bhandari-Assistant Commander NDRF told ANI.

On Saturday, a part of the tunnel broke about 200 meters ahead of the starting point on the Silkyara side of Brahmakhal-Polgaon.

Teams of SDRF and NDRF along with police personnel are conducting relief and rescue operations on a war footing to evacuate the people trapped inside the tunnel.

Ranveer Singh Chauhan, Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD) jawan said “Work is underway at a great speed. Everyone is working very hard. We were saddened yesterday because we weren’t able to communicate with those trapped. But then we were able to communicate with them.”

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that he is in contact with the officials briefing him about the relief and rescue operation underway at the tunnel.

Information about the tunnel collapse was received at the District Control Room Uttarkashi with the caller requesting the assistance of an SDRF team at the spot.

Acting on the information, Commander SDRF, Manikant Mishra immediately directed a rescue team under the leadership of Inspector Jagdamba Vijalwan to leave for the spot with the necessary rescue equipment, they said.

“After reaching the spot, SDRF started a relief and rescue operation on a war footing in coordination with other rescue units,” the official said. (ANI)

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