Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: Preparations to evacuate workers in final stage, says CM

The ongoing efforts to evacuate the 41 workers trapped in the Silkayara tunnel in Uttarkashi have reached their final stages, as stated by the Uttarakhand Chief Minister’s Office in a release.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami himself is on-site in Uttarkashi overseeing the preparations.

Medical equipment has arrived at the location to support the rescue operation, now on its 12th day. Officials are optimistic about pulling out the workers from the collapsed tunnel today.

The workers have been stuck since November 12 when debris blocked the under-construction tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot, causing a 60-meter obstruction on the Silkyara side.

This critical phase of the operation involves overcoming about 10 meters of debris separating the rescue teams from the trapped workers. The plan includes drilling through the debris to install wide pipes for the workers to exit through, with an auger machine being used to clear about 3 meters of debris per hour. Challenges arose earlier when the machine encountered a metal obstruction.

A 41-bed hospital has been set up at the Community Health Centre in Chinyalisaur to provide medical care once the workers are evacuated. Detailed medical examinations await the workers upon their arrival at the hospital.

NDRF personnel have also brought oxygen cylinders to aid in the rescue efforts at the Silkyara tunnel. The area where the workers are trapped, measuring 8.5 meters in height and 2 kilometers in length, is a constructed part of the tunnel providing some safety with electricity and water supply.