With more than 86 meters to be dug out, the vertical drilling for the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse rescue efforts is still ongoing.
On the 16th day of the operations, the agencies are examining several options for rescuing the 41 trapped workers in the collapsed part of the Uttarkashi tunnel.
On Sunday afternoon, the vertical drilling of the Silkyara hill began, with around 110 meters of the slope to be dug out for the rescue of the trapped workers. The equipment has already drilled 20 meters of the hill in a quick operation, with approximately 86 meters remaining.
The vertical drilling equipment was brought in when the American auger failed in its horizontal tunnel drilling and became jammed in the metal grinder in the middle of the operation. Here are the highlights of the rescue mission.
- The vertical drilling machine has already bored 20 meters into the ground in the first 12 hours of the rescue mission, making the process quick.
- The vertical drilling machine is moving quickly from the top of the hill, while a plasma machine brought in from Hyderabad is removing the auger machine from the pipe on the tunnel’s side.
- Fresh prepared food, water, and medical supplies are being delivered to the stranded guys via a small 6-inch tunnel drilled into the rubble.
- Once the vertical drilling is finished, the 41 trapped workers will be hoisted out of the collapsed tunnel using a chopper and a harness line.
- The rescue operations are scheduled to last another 24 hours, with the final phase lasting 24 hours. The final phase of the mission currently in Progress.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: NHIDCL expects vertical drilling operations in the Uttarkashi tunnel to be finished by November 30
Mahmood Ahmad, Managing Director of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), announced on Monday that the vertical drilling at the Uttarkashi tunnel, where 41 workers remain trapped, will be completed by November 30.
“We have completed around 30 meters of drilling,” Mahmood Ahmad stated at a press conference in Uttarkashi. The present machine in use can drill approximately 40-45 meters. We’ve brought two additional machines for this purpose. SJVNL has delivered those machines. It will take time to change over machinery. We anticipate that the vertical drilling operations will be completed by November 30.”
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: The Adani Group clarifies that it has no role in the construction of the Uttarkashi tunnel
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Robots to check imprisoned workers’ mental health
With the rescue operations progressing quickly, robotics specialist Milind Raj stated on Monday that the mental well-being of trapped personnel will be monitored by robots, adding that they will use homegrown indigenous technology for this.
“I’m here for the mental health of the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel.” This is a locally developed indigenous technology. Robots will now monitor their mental wellness. “We have systems in place to monitor workers’ health around the clock,” Milind Raj explained.
“Internet access will also be available.” “This rescue robotic system will aid in the detection of hazardous gases such as methane,” he noted.
The robotic expert stated that he discussed the ongoing rescue effort with the officials involved, adding that the team will apply the best feasible solutions.
“There are three components to this robotic system. It features a gas detecting system; in addition, it will give internet service and monitor the health of the trapped workers from a distance of 100 meters,” he explained.
“We can work to improve their mental health with the help of this.” Prior to this, a building in Lucknow fell, saving 14 people’s lives. In the operations, we employed the same robotic system,” he continued.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Former Army Engineer-in-Chief supports physical technique of reaching imprisoned workers
“There is no other option but to use the manual method, which is also the safest way to reach the laborers.” In the current circumstance, the jammed Auger machine has been removed. Attempts are being made to remove the 1.5 meters of damaged pipe. After it has been removed, reinforced, and muck cleared, skilled laborers will enter with the assistance of the army. “We hope to have this completed soon,” said retired Lt. Gen. Harpal Singh.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: According to an authority, vertical drilling should not be compared to horizontal drilling
“We are working on multiple options simultaneously,” Mahmood Ahmad, MD-National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corp Ltd, said of the Silkyara tunnel rescue. This should not be viewed as vertical drilling versus horizontal drilling. Our goal is to save the men.”
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: The Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary, the Union Home Secretary, and the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand all paid visits to the scene
On the 16th day of the operations, a delegation led by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Pramod Kumar Mishra took stock of continuing attempts to rescue 41 trapped workers in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi.
The work within the tunnel was reviewed by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary SS Sandhu, and Pramod Kumar Mishra.
The Principal Secretary also inquired about the food items delivered to the tunnel workers. PK Mishra also met with the workers who were trapped and their families.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: 70 meters of drilling remain
After around 70 meters of vertical drilling, a pipe will be placed into the tunnel to hoist the trapped workers out.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Rain alert in Uttarkashi
The weather service has issued a rainfall warning for Uttarkashi, which may cause the commencement of hand drilling at the tunnel collapse site to be delayed.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Rain provides a new difficulty
The rain may present a new problem in the rescue operations following the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse, as it may impede vertical drilling of the rubble.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Completed vertical drilling of 31 meters
The vertical drilling is now complete after 31 meters, and the hand drilling will begin soon.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: The Centre assesses rescue efforts
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Pramod Kumar Mishra, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and Uttarakhand Chief Secretary SS Sandhu have arrived at the site of the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse to assess the situation.
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LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Manual drilling will begin soon
Under the supervision of the Indian Army, a team of rat miners has been organized to begin manual drilling of the collapsed tunnel.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: The damaged pipe is being removed
The damaged pipe is being removed from the tunnel after the auger equipment is removed, according to officials.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: damaged auger sections have been removed
The damaged auger machine parts were successfully retrieved from the tunnel, bringing rescuers one step closer to the trapped miners.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Vertical drilling will be completed soon
Authorities have stated that if the team encounters no obstacles, the vertical drilling of the tunnel could be completed by Thursday of this week.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: workers will be rescued using buckets
Following the successful installation of the pipe into the tunnel via vertical drilling, the trapped personnel will be lifted using buckets put into the pipe one by one.
Uttarakhand tunnel collapse LIVE updates: Food and water supplies remain stable
The 6-inch supply pipe is continuously supplying hot food and fresh water to the 41 stranded workers in the Uttarkashi tunnel.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Sideways drilling is being investigated
If vertical drilling operations are halted on Monday, officials are considering starting sideways drilling after extracting the blocked auger.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: What’s next in rescue operations?
The vertical drilling is scheduled to be completed within the next 12-24 hours, with the workers possibly being airlifted out of a steel pipe. They will be hurried to a nearby medical facility, where a team of doctors will be waiting for them.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: What if drilling fails?
The agencies’ six plans for the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse rescue mission include that if vertical drilling fails, they will use sideways drilling or drift technology to pull the workers out.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Indian Army begins operations
The Indian Army has joined the rescue efforts following the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse, with officers planning to manually dig out the pieces of the American auger from the rubble.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: manual digging is the last resort
As a final resort, the rescue crews will likely start manually drilling the tunnel to extract the shattered drill pieces from the wreckage.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: only 86m remain
With only 86 meters of vertical drilling remaining, the rescue operations are expected to be completed by tomorrow morning. Rescuers will airlift the stranded workers out after drilling through the tunnel.
LIVE updates on the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: Rapid vertical drilling
On the first day of vertical drilling, the machine had already dug through 20 meters of rubble, with just roughly 86 meters remaining for the machine to drill through in order to rescue the trapped personnel.
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