Uttarakhand Tunnel Live Updates: Rescue Ops Halted Again After Technical Snag

Rescuers have drilled about 46 meters in the Silkyara tunnel

New Delhi:

Rescue efforts for the 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel have entered the final stretch today. Till now, rescuers have drilled about 46 meters in the Silkyara tunnel.

The workers have been trapped for the past 12 days after a portion of the under-construction tunnel on the Uttarakhand Char Dham route collapsed on November 12.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialed Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and sought information about the ongoing rescue operation.

Here are the LIVE updates on the rescue operations:

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“This Is A War Being Fought To Save Sons Of India”: Rescue Official

A senior rescue official said that their efforts were “like battle” and that the final stretch was “critical”.

“By any means, we must get these brave men out”, Syed Ata Hasnain told reporters today, adding that “all resources” needed were being utilised.

“This is a war that is being fought to save the sons of India who have been toiling up there in the mountains,” he said.

“We are going to be very, very careful in further progress”, Mr Hasnain, a retired general, added.

“Trapped Workers In Good Frame Of Mind”: Official

A senior government official overseeing rescue efforts told reporters today that the trapped workers are in “good frame of mind”.

“We have to (drill) 14 metres further inside the tunnel,” Bhaskar Khulbe said.

“Pushing In Just Two More Pipes May Get Us To Trapped Workers”: Official
Only 10-12 metres of drilling is left for rescuers to reach the 41 construction workers trapped in the Uttarakhand tunnel for the 13th day now, but giving a timeframe for the rescue is difficult because unexpected hurdles have been delaying the work, senior officials said today afternoon.

“Rescue Op In Its Last Step” Uttarakhand Chief Minister

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today said that the tunnel rescue operation is in its “last step”.

Speaking to reporters, he also said that Prime Minister Modi is taking all the updates about the difficulties that workers might face and has been discussing the solutions.

“All the agencies of both the central and state governments are working together for the rescue operation. We hope that soon this operation will be completed and all the workers will come out,” he said.

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | Haridwar: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami says, “The rescue operation is in its last step. PM Modi takes all the updates about the difficulties that workers might face and discusses the solutions… All the agencies of both the… pic.twitter.com/caI1E2XSwd

– ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2023

Auger Machine Repaired Now: Uttarakhand Government

Uttarakhand government has said that the auger machine, which was damaged and had to be disassembled due to steel pipes coming in front of it and the pipe being inserted inside getting bent, has been repaired now.

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue | Uttarakhand government says, the auger machine had to be disassembled due to steel pipes coming in front of it and the pipe being inserted inside getting bent. Due to this, the auger machine was damaged, it has been repaired. pic.twitter.com/W864brwdxO

– ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2023

Workers To Be Rescued By This Evening: ONGC Director

Amid the ongoing operation to rescue 41 workers trapped in a collapsed portion of the Uttarkashi tunnel, director ONGC Sanjay Bhatt, who is present at the site, asserted the labourers will be rescued by this evening.

“We are hopeful that the rescue operation will be concluded and the workers brought out safely by today. As of now, there is no major hindrance to the operation and everyone is hopeful that the workers will be rescued by this evening,” Mr Bhatt told reporters.

#WATCH | | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue: NDRF demonstrates the movement of wheeled stretchers through the pipeline, for the rescue of 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara Tunnel once the horizontal pipe reaches the other side. pic.twitter.com/mQcvtmYjnk

– ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2023

Union Minister General VK Singh Reaches Tunnel Rescue Site

Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, General (retd) VK Singh, reached the Silkyara tunnel site on Friday to take stock of the ongoing efforts to rescue 41 trapped workers.

The workers have now been trapped for 13 days on the opposite end of a portion of the under-construction tunnel, which collapsed on November 12.

The rescue operations entered its final phase on Thursday, with officials saying that only a few metres were left to be drilled for the rescuers to reach the trapped workers.

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | Former advisor to PMO, Bhaskar Khulbe says, “The situation is much better now. Last night, we had to work on two things. First, we had to revamp the platform of the machine… Parsons Company had done the ground penetration radar,… pic.twitter.com/2qbHYPqs04

– ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2023

#WATCH | Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand) tunnel rescue | Latest visuals from outside the tunnel

Drilling work was halted yesterday after a technical snag in the Auger drilling machine. Till now, rescuers have drilled up to 46.8 meters in the Silkyara tunnel pic.twitter.com/OVpFR5og7R

– ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2023