Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: Iron mesh hurdle removed, rescue operations resume after six hours

Lucknow: Rescue operations to bring out the 41 labourers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district since November 12, which came to a halt after the auger machine used in the drilling hit an iron mesh on Wednesday night, resumed after a delay of six hours on Thursday morning.

The officials, engaged in the rescue work, said that a total of 12 metres of drilling was yet to be done and expressed hope that the work of drilling and welding would be completed in the next few hours.

A senior official said in Silkyara said that the iron mesh which blocked the path has been removed using gas cutters and that drilling work has resumed. Drilling was completed for 45 metres inside the tunnel and there are still 12 metres left to be drilled.

They, however, refused to give a time frame for bringing out the trapped labourers. ''Any haste may create more problems....we have to ensure the safety of the rescuers as well as the trapped labourers,'' said an official.

According to the sources, the officials are taking extra precautions during the drilling. The officials said that once the drilling was completed, the NDRF personnel would enter the tunnel and bring out the trapped labourers one by one.

The officials said that preparations were being made to provide medical facilities to the trapped labourers once they come out of the tunnel and a temporary 8-bed hospital has been established.

Beds have been reserved at the Uttarkashi district hospital also. The labourers would be airlifted by chopper to AIIMS at Rishikesh if required, they added. Ambulances have also been stationed outside the tunnel.

As many as 41 labourers from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttarakhand and Assam were trapped after a portion of the tunnel caved in on Sunday. The spot is 200 metres away from the entry of the tunnel toward Silkyara.

The tunnel, which is 4.5 kilometre long, was being constructed from Silkyara to Dandalgaon on the Yamunotri National Highway under the Char Dham Road project. The tunnel would reduce the distance from Uttarkashi to Yamunotri by around 26 kilometres.