Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami over the phone today about the ongoing rescue operations to safely rescue 41 workers trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi district. The Prime Minister said that necessary rescue equipment and resources are being provided by the Central Government to evacuate the workers safely. He said the workers will be evacuated safely with mutual coordination between the central and state agencies. During the phone call, the Chief Minister gave detailed information about the relief and rescue operations to the Prime Minister.
International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association president Arnold Dix arrived at the location site today to aid the rescue efforts. He is widely recognised as the World’s leading expert on underground tunnelling and issues associated with the actual safety performance from an operational safety perspective. Professor Dix conducted an inspection at the tunnel site and spoke to the agencies that have been involved in the rescue operations
It is noteworthy that various agencies are engaged in rescuing the workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel using modern machinery. The administration is in contact with the workers trapped in the tunnel and all are said to be safe. Electricity and water are available in this portion of the tunnel and labourers are provided food items and medicines etc through a 4-inch compressor pipeline.
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited has started working on another vertical pipeline for supply for essential items. Border Roads Organisation has completed an approach road in just one day for facilitating this. National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited will also continue to drill from Silkyara end after working safety arrangements. The Army has prepared the box culvert to facilitate this. Tehri Hydroelectric Development Corporation will start work of micro tunnelling from Barkot end for which heavy machinery has been mobilised.
