TRAPPED MINERS WAIT FOR SAFE EVACUATION FROM UTTARKASHI TUNNEL AS NEW VERTICAL DRILLING METHOD COMMENCES

UTTARKASHI TUNNEL : As per the latest news of the Silkyara Tunnel Collapse in Uttarkashi, work is underway round-the-clock to
evacuate the 41 workers trapped inside for more than 10 days. The Augur machine that was employed
earlier to perform horizontal drilling met a snag and broke leaving pieces of machinery lodged in the
debris inside. Broken pieces of machinery from the Augur machine have now been retrieved. As of
yesterday, an altogether new method has been employed. Vertical drilling to reach the trapped men has
commenced and there is a length of 86 metres still to be dug out to reach them, as per reports. The
rescue teams have worked out an estimated 100 hours for this new method.
Speaking to the media on the multiple setbacks in rescue efforts to safely evacuate the 41 workers
trapped inside for more than 10 days, NDMA member Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain
Monday said manual drilling technique will be employed in addition to tools and instruments as
required. Indian Army engineers, rat miners (miners adept in manual rat hole boring) and other
technicians will form teams and collaborate for the operation. At least 6 rat hole miners have arrived
from Delhi and Jhansi for the rescue mission.