Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: Auger machine breaks down at last hurdle; now these alternatives being explored
The ongoing war-footing operation to rescue 41 workers trapped in the tunnel has currently come to a halt. The American auger machine used for drilling broke down due to obstruction. 45 meter part of it got stuck inside the 800 mm pipe. The rescue teams took out the 20 meter portion by cutting it with a gas cutter, but now a plasma cutter has been called from Hyderabad to cut the remaining 25 meter portion. Due to which the rescue mission may be pushed back by several days.
The operation to rescue 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel, which had reached the final stages since the debris fell on the morning of Diwali, suffered its biggest setback so far late on Friday night. When the drill machine broke and the blades of the machine got stuck inside the 800 mm pipe. It is being told that with the help of the machine so far about 47 meters of drilling has been done. International tunnel expert Arnold Dix told the media that the auger machine is no longer functional.
The blade of the machine is stuck, which will be cut with a plasma cutter procured from Hyderabad. Then an attempt will be made to move the pipe forward by digging the remaining portion manually. It is being told that the workers have also cleaned some part from the other side. It is believed that it will take three to four days to remove the blade and do manual digging again. These are the possibilities being thought upon to rescue the trapped workers:
Plan one: The stuck part of the auger machine will be cut and removed. After this, workers will dig and remove the debris manually.
Plan Two: This will involve digging at a distance of 82 meters in the upper area of the tunnel under construction. The machine platform has been prepared for this. A part of the machine has also been delivered there.
On Saturday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Minister in-charge Premchand Aggarwal and Chief Secretary Dr. SS Sandhu also arrived for inspection. After this he held a meeting, in which PMO officials also participated. CM Dhami said, this campaign is going on in difficult circumstances. 45 meters of blades were stuck inside the pipe, 20 meters of which have been cut and removed. To cut the remaining 25 meters, a plasma cutter has been called from Hyderabad, which will reach Jolly Grant Airport by late evening. This cutter is expected to reach Silkyara by Sunday morning. Manual digging will be started after removing the broken blades of the machine. He informed that preparations for vertical drill above the tunnel are also complete.
