Thai Rescuers contacted with New Machine for rescuing workers in Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse.?
It has been four days now that the 40 workers have been trapped inside an under-construction tunnel in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi, a portion of which collapsed on Sunday. Despite the tireless efforts of rescue teams to pull out the trapped workers from the Silkvara Tunnel that collapsed on november 12, challenging conditions have hampered the progress of the operation. A trenchless tunneling approach was initiated on Tuesday, with teams attempting to drill through the debris. However, one drill machine failed to pierce through the debris, following which another heavy drilling machine was airlifted from delhi by three IAF transport aircraft Wednesday.Officials have now “contacted the Thai company which rescued the children trapped in the cave”, the uttarakhand government’s department of public relations said in a statement. Amid concerns over the condition of the workers trapped inside the tunnel for four days now, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) PRO Girdharilaal said that everyone is fine.“We have the support of the administration… We will succeed in this [rescue process]. The [new] machine is 99.99 per cent installed. I want to inform everyone not to get misled… Everyone is fine; they don’t need medical help. But still, the medical team is here…” he said. Union minister General VK Singh (Retd) also reiterated that there is light in the gap where workers are trapped, adding that food and water is being sent to them. He said that efforts are on to complete the rescue operation within two-three days.As per the plan, the ‘American auger’ machine will drill through the rubble of the tunnel’s collapsed portion and insert 800-mm and 900-mm diameter sections of mild steel pipes one after the other. Once this happens, the workers trapped on the other side of the rubble can crawl out to safety. Officials said that the first drilling machine turned out to be too slow and technical issues developed. Over that, falling debris inside the tunnel damaged the equipment and injured two rescue workers on Tuesday.