Dehradun:
Dozens of workers have been stuck in an Uttarakhand tunnel for nearly 150 hours as a giant drill is deployed to rescue them. Rescue operations came to a standstill last night after hearing a sudden “cracking noise” and the drill developed a problem.
Officials have said a second heavy drill will be airlifted to the accident site and operations are expected to resume at 10 a.m.
#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue | Morning images from the spot; relief and rescue work halted at the Silkyara Tunnel
Speaking to ANI Anshu Manish Khulko, director of tunnel construction company NHIDCL, said that the drilling work in the tunnel has been stopped at present.… pic.twitter.com/ZhNAsdAtRX
— ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2023
The 40 workers have been trapped since Sunday morning after part of the tunnel collapsed. Officials said all 40 workers are safe and are being supplied with food and water through steel pipes drilled into the opening.
Families of the trapped workers have arrived at the scene of the accident and are losing hope. The brother of one of the workers, who is from Haridwar, said the workers must be rescued quickly before their health deteriorates.
Doctors have also emphasized the need for comprehensive rehabilitation of the trapped workers, fearing that the prolonged confinement will necessitate both mental and physical recovery processes.
On November 12, part of the Silkyara tunnel under construction collapsed, trapping 40 construction workers in the rubble. Efforts to reach them were delayed by falling debris while drilling, as rescuers tried to create a space where they could push through pipes so the men could crawl to safety.
Drilling work came to a standstill on Friday evening after a “large-scale cracking sound” was heard.
The Air Force has flown a second machine from Indore on a C-130 Hercules military aircraft and operations are expected to resume soon.