Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) [India], November 19 (ANI): Following Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s on-site inspection of the operations at the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse site on Sunday, Uttarakhand Disaster Management Secretary Ranjit Sinha said that a 900-mm-diameter pipe is being inserted with the help of an Auger machine.
“We are inserting a 900-mm-diameter pipe with the help of the Auger machine. We have reached 22 meters and we are going ahead rapidly,” Sinha said while speaking to reporters on Sunday.
Sinha added that a second lifeline pipe is being inserted above the one already in place. “There is a lifeline pipe for sending food and other necessary items. We are inserting another pipe above it because there is less debris there. There, we have gone to 42 meters and only a few metres are left. We will have another pipe for life support when that is ready,” the state Disaster Management Secretary said.
Sinha added that talks are on to send a robot above the roof of the tunnel to check the place between the debris and the tunnel so that a pipe can be sent for life support.
“Thirdly, on the roof of the tunnel on which debris is present, there is space between the debris and the tunnel. We are working on sending a robot so that it can analyse how much space is available and if we can send a pipe for life support. If there is more space there, we can rescue people from there,” he said.
The Disaster Management Secretary said that two side tunnels will also be constructed for an escape route. “We are working on two side tunnels, that is tunnels at the side of the main tunnel for the escape route. This has been given to RBNL (Rail Vikas Nigam Limited) which is making tunnels for railways. I think they will get the plan today and start working tomorrow,” he said.
Speaking about another route for carrying out the rescue work, Sinha said, “Next, we will be working on the Barkut tunnel end; we will be working on the remaining 400-meter part. The responsibility has been given to TSDC. They said that they would construct a 2-2.5-meter-diameter tunnel so that people could be rescued.”
Sinha also added that vertical digging will be done to carry on rescue work or at least provide life support. “Moreover, we will do vertical drilling and make a bore so that we can rescue people if the bore’s diameter is sufficient or we can at least send life support,” he said. The under-construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed in the early hours of November 12. (ANI)
Uttarkashi tunnel crash: Five-option action plan to be adopted to rescue trapped workers, says Road Transport Secretary Anurag Jain
Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) [India], November 19 (ANI): As rescue operations continue for eight days to save the 40 trapped workers at Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, Secretary, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways Anurag Jain announced on Sunday the decision to take up a five-option action plan. The government has taken a decision to work on all fronts to save the precious lives of the labourers trapped in the tunnel at Silkyara, Jain told ANI.
“The government has taken a decision to work on all fronts to save the precious lives of the labourers trapped in the tunnel at Silkyara. In a high-level meeting today, various options were examined based on technical advice and 5 options are to be pursued,” he added. “In addition to these 5 options, a couple of additional pipes for redundancy of food support would also be put up,” he added.
According to Anurag Jain, National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHDCL), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC) and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) have been assigned one option each. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the construction wing of the Indian Army have also been assisting in the rescue operation, he said.
Jain further said that the Managing Director of NHIDCL has been made in charge of coordination with all the Central agencies and has been stationed in Silkyara. “The government of Uttarakhand has appointed Dr Neeraj Khairwal, Secretary, as the Nodal Officer for coordination. All the agencies concerned have posted senior officers at the site,” he informed further.
The centre has given clear directions that whatever is possible must be done for the rescue operation, Jain added. He further said, “Along with these 5 options, there is an action plan. We are working on the declared unsafe areas where we were working and stopped later due to movement on earth. We will make a canopy and restart the work with all the security measures.”
Meanwhile, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached the scene to review the ongoing rescue and relief operation. They were accompanied by Uttarakhand Chief Secretary SS Sandhu at Silkyara. Speaking to ANI about the ongoing relief and rescue operations, CM Dhami said, “We are working on all the possibilities available. All types of expert teams are working here.”
CM Dhami said that the state government is ready to provide all the help required to the agencies involved in the rescue operation. The under-construction tunnel between Silkyara and Dandalgaon on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed in the early hours of November 12. (ANI)
