New Delhi: The marathon rescue operation in Silkyara tunnel of Uttarakhand is set to culminate today, with evacuation of all 41 trapped workers. As per latest reports from the spot, the rescue teams have reached the workers and the elaborate process to pull them out of caved in tunnel has already begun. In moments or hours from now, the stranded workers are expected to be pulled out of tunnel.
Past 17 days have been very tense & anxious for those trapped inside the debris as well as their families while the rescue teams had a grueling & tiring time as they worked round the clock to push through the rubble.
Families of stranded workers have a reason to smile today but those engaged in rescue operation over last 17 days & nights kept scaling up their effort and going the extra mile to save 41 innocent lives. They deserve kudos for incessant endeavour in saving the lives.
While they stayed rooted in the difficult trains even during festivals, the entire watched them in rapt attention. Uttarakhand Chief Minister along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been keeping a close watch on the entire episode.
A batch of rescue teams are engaged in the operations which include NDRF, SDRF, Indian Army and other state and central agencies.
A look at rescue teams of Uttarakhand mission:
Neeraj Khairwal (Nodal Officer) – IAS officer
IAS officer Neeraj Khairwal is also the nodal officer of Silkyara tunnel operation. As nodal officer, he oversaw everything & served as commanding officer at the spot. He is Secretary in Uttarakhand government. It was he, who used to update PMO & CMO about latest developments in the case.
Chris Cooper, mico-tunneling expert
Chris Cooper, a micro-tunneling expert landed in Uttarakashi, within a week of the tunnel mishap. Cooper, a Chartered Engineer by professor, has decades of experience & specialization in civil engineering infrastructure, Metro tunnels, Large Caverns, Dams, Railway and Mining Projects.
Syed Ata Hasnain is the Retired Lieutenant General of Indian Army and has been supervising the role of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in Uttarkashi’s Silkyara tunnel.
Arnold Dix, Tunnelling expert
Arnold Dix is a scientific researcher & underground tunneling expert. A man of international repute, his presence gave the local residents much hope.
Dix grabbed the attention of media as he was seen offering prayers to Baba Bauknath, on a day when the labourers are set to be extracted. He also supervised the American auger machine, which was instrumental in digging the hills and paving way for exit of workers.
साइंस 🤝 सनातन
टनलिंग एक्सपर्ट #ArnoldDix #उत्तरकाशी में मजदूरों को सकुशल निकालने के लिए प्रार्थना कर रहे हैं।
ये संगम आप पूरे विश्व में इसी भारतभूमि पर देख सकते हैं।#Uttarakhandtunnelrescue #Uttarakhand #RescueOperation pic.twitter.com/GwPwYnWFUM— Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) November 28, 2023
Rat hole mining experts
After all the measures to dig 57 metre deep into the rubble failed, a team of rat mining experts took the charge and made the final push.
6 rat hole mining experts were flown in from Madhya Pradesh, who started manual drilling & micro-tunneling. They managed to successfully execute a valiant endeavour, in the eleventh hour.
While the drilling, environment experts aided by rescue teams of NDRF and SDRF conducted an all-round operation, a team of doctors and ambulances are on standby to attend to the rescued labourers, as & when they come out.
