Drilling resumes at Uttarakhand tunnel, pipes pushed up to 42 metres through rubble for workers' rescue

Neeraj Mohan

Silkyara (Uttarkashi), November 22

The rescue operation gained momentum on the 11th day on Wednesday as the US-made auger machine managed to drill up to 42 metres and inserted seven pipes, which will be used to rescue the 41 trapped workers from the partially collapsed tunnel here.

The drilling was suspended on Friday when the auger machine hit a hard object.

The drilling by the auger machine is going on full swing since Tuesday late night and the officials are now expecting to complete the task by next Thursday afternoon, if the work continues at the same pace.

As per information, the machine needs to drill around 57 metres through the rubble, with another 15 metres to go before the rescuers reach the trapped labourers. The officials are expecting to complete the rescue operation in the next 24 hours.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami told media persons that the auger machine is working today and he is hopeful that all the workers will come out safely.

Also, rescuers are doing horizontal drilling from Barkot.

Meanwhile, food and medicine have been sent to the workers through a 6-inch pipe and doctors also inquired about workers’ health.