Uttarakhand tunnel rescue: Protracted rescue operation looms as auger encounters technical issues

Neeraj Mohan

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Silkyara, November 25

In the face of persistent technical challenges preventing the US-made horizontal drilling machine from advancing beyond 46.8 metres, rescuers are now exploring the option of vertical drilling to facilitate the rescue of 41 workers trapped in the partially collapsed under-construction tunnel here since November 12.

The horizontal drilling came to a halt as the augers broke upon hitting steel girders, with the broken pieces lodged inside the pipes. Technical experts from various locations have been tirelessly working since Friday morning to extract them.

While only two augers have been successfully removed, six remain entangled, necessitating a time-consuming extraction process. Consequently, officials have initiated the implementation of Plan B, involving vertical and directional drilling.

A vertical drilling machine has been mobilised from Rishikesh and is being transported to the hilltop via a road constructed by the Border Road Organisation.

Authorities anticipate the machine to be operational by Saturday evening. Simultaneously, manual drilling will commence to cut through the remaining debris, approximately 10-12 metres thick, to access the 41 trapped workers.

Since Thursday evening rescuers witnessed a slew of challenges, including technical snags, steel girders, and concrete rubble obstructing the machine’s progress through the debris. Multiple central and state agencies, including NDRF, SDRF, BRO, NHIDCL, and ITBP have united their efforts for the rescue operations.

Essential supplies, including food, beverages and medical aid are being delivered to the workers through a six-inch pipe inserted into the collapsed tunnel. Some of the trapped workers also talked to their family members via walkie-talkies.