LIVE | Silkyara tunnel collapse: Rescue efforts may extend till tomorrow morning
The medical team has been communicating with the workers inside to find out their condition and to plan the immediate course of action when they are rescued
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Thursday (November 23) said there could be a “success” in bringing out 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand in the next few hours or by Friday.
Briefing media about the ongoing rescue operations, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) member Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, also added that it would not be fair to speculate on the timeline for rescue operations as it is just like fighting a war. He also said that rescue work had stopped and is likely to resume shortly.
The NDMA member also said that the horizontal drilling to rescue workers may face 3-4 more hurdles. He further said that 41 ambulances, one each for trapped workers, are in place at the tunnel site, and also facilities are in place to airlift workers in serious condition.
The men have been trapped for 11 days after a portion of the under-construction tunnel on the Uttarakhand Char Dham route collapsed, cutting off its exit. Rescue operations to evacuate the workers resumed on Thursday morning after an overnight hurdle delayed the drilling by several hours.
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Live Updates
- 23 Nov 2023 9:56 AM GMT
Rescue work will go on at night as well: IG Garhwal Range
IG Garhwal Range, KS Nagnyal said, "The attempt at rescue is under progress and rescue is expected to be carried out very soon...It is machinery work so a stipulated time can't be decided...The rescue work will go on at night as well"
- 23 Nov 2023 9:46 AM GMT
Ground report update: Just 5-6 m distance left to be covered
Giving the latest updates from the collapsed Uttarkashi tunnel spot, Puthiya Thalaimurai correspondent Niranjan said the Auger machines is being deployed to insert the pipe to rescue the workers. Rigorous welding work is called up, and this has to be done meticulously to avoid cracks, he said.
What makes the task challenging is clementine weather. To withstand the pressure applied by the debris, the rescue pipes need to be made very strong.
Just 5-6 metre of distance is left to be covered, and the pipe laying is likely to take another 60-90 minutes. It will be examined thoroughly before the workers are directed to come out.
- 23 Nov 2023 7:34 AM GMT
Puthiya Thalaimurai shares details
Puthiya Thalaimurai correspondent Niranjan, reporting from the ground, said preparations are on in mission mode. Once the pipe is fully in place, the 41 workers will be able to come out.
It is expected that the rescuers wouldn't be going in to fetch the workers. On the other hand, the workers will be able to crawl out, since the pipe is wide enough to allow that. In fact, the shorter ones can even sit inside pipe and drag themselves out, said the correspondent.
Trolleys are being sent in, too. The workers who feel weak can lie down on the trolleys, and they will be pulled out by the rescuers using ropes. All the paraphernalia are in place for this. To ease the way out, pebbles and other obstructions are being removed.
The pipe sent for food and other supplies has made sure the workers are kept nourished. Today, hot kichadi, roti, and other foods were sent in tightly sealed packets. Some of the workers have sought phones and chargers, said Niranjan.
- 23 Nov 2023 7:16 AM GMT
From pipe to hospital: Here's how the 41 trapped workers will be rescued
- Once the pipe being laid by the rescue team reaches the trapped workers, a doctor from the NDRF will go and check their condition as they walk out of the tunnel. They have been inside for 12 days, with access to proper meals only since Wednesday.
- The medical team is taking into consideration the temperature difference between the tunnel and the outside environment, while also factoring in the psychological impact of this forced confinement on the workers.
- The doctor would guide them how to crawl out through the pipe and avoid the sharp edges at the welding joints.
- The rescue team has made arrangements for stretchers too.
- The workers will walk out through the pipe and be closely monitored by the NDRF.
- There are 41 ambulances waiting outside to take them to a makeshift hospital at Chinyalisour nearby, where they will undergo a detailed medical examination.
- 23 Nov 2023 5:33 AM GMT
#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says "45 metres of pipeline has been laid through auger machine. The rescue is at its final stages. There are some obstacles,. but I hope that the workers are rescued as early as possible.… pic.twitter.com/FJRkCvX8v7
— ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2023
