The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel on Friday carried out a demonstration of the movement of wheeled stretchers through the pipeline inserted to extricate 41 workers trapped in a portion of the Silkyara tunnel of Uttarkashi, which collapsed over a week ago.
Director General of the National Disaster Response Force, Atul Karwal, expressed hope on Thursday that the multi-rescue operations to provide a safe passage to 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakashi will be completed by the end of the day.
"NDRF is ready for all the consequences that we may have to face. Special equipment is also ready so that we can take the trapped workers out as early as possible. Our teams are ready, and I hope we will be able to rescue the workers soon," NDRF DG Atul Karwal told ANI.
The workers have been trapped since November 12 when the under-construction tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot got blocked due to debris falling in a 60-meter stretch on the Silkyara side.
The rescue operations have entered the final stages at the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi where 41 workers remain trapped as National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel have entered the tunnel, an official statement issued by Chief Minister office said on Wednesday.
The collapse occurred on November 12 during the construction of the tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot, and the debris that fell in a 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel trapped 41 workers.
Meanwhile, the location has been identified for vertical drilling to bring out 41 workers trapped inside Silkyara Tunnel, 11 days after the under-construction structure collapsed.
The International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association offered assistance to the Indian rescue team as 40 labourers remain stranded due to a tunnel collapse in Uttarkashi.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday wrote a letter to Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar highlighting the urgent need for financial assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to address the severe drought conditions in the state.
According to authorities, a platform is being prepared for an auger machine to drill horizontally and insert large diameter MS pipes in between the debris so that the trapped workers can be taken out throught the metal pipes.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting an early release of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) funds to tackle the drought situation in the state.