Day 8 of Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: Govt works on 5 options; Gadkari reviews rescue operations

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE By Our Special Correspondent New Delhi, November 19: With the family members of the trapped 41 workers and locals camping at the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse site, Union Minister for Road and Transport Nitin Gandkari on Sunday visited the site to take stock of the rescue works. His visit has come amid flaks on the social media against the ministers for being busy in electioneering while 41 workers lie trapped in the collapsed tunnel for eight days now. The agencies on Sunday tried to supply food and medicines through a pipe to the trapped workers. The local officials said that murmure, dry fruits and other food items were provided to the trapped workers through the pipe which oxygen is being ensured inside the ill-fated tunnel. Earlier in the day Gadkari visited the Silkyara site of the tunnel where the mishap took place on November 12. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami, while speaking to reporters ahead of the site visit, said that the state government is extending all cooperation to the agencies working for the rescue operation. He sought to counter criticism that the ministers had been busy in electioneering even while the workers continue to be trapped for eight days now. “We don’t wish to cause disturbances to the ongoing rescue works. This is the reason that we are keeping the visits to the site to the minimal,” Dhami told reporters. He said that the government is working on multiple options while the Centre is fully involved in carrying out the rescue mission. He expressed hope that the trapped workers would be expeditiously rescued. Incidentally, 41 workers are still trapped in the collapsed tunnel who hail from Bijar, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. The Centre on Saturday had held a high level meeting to work on all fronts to save lives of the labourers trapped in the tunnel at Silkyara. Various options were examined based on technical advice and five options are to be pursued, sources said. The agencies are trying to approach the trapped workers through horizonal as well as vertical ways with necessary actions. “In addition to these five options, couple of additional pipes for redundancy of food support would also be put up,” sources added. NHIDCL, ONGC, SJVNL, THDC and RVNL have been assigned one option each, sources said, adding that the BRO and construction wing of Indian Army have also been assisting in the rescue operation. Mahmood Ahmed, MD, NHIDCL, has been made in-charge for coordination with all the Central agencies and has been stationed in Silkyara. “Government of Uttarakhand has made Neeraj Khairwal, Secretary, as the Nodal Officer for coordination. All the agencies concerned have posted senior officers at site. Government has given a clear direction that whatever is possible be done for the rescue operation,” added sources. After the incident on November 12, the State Government and the Government of India mobilised resources immediately, sources said, adding “senior Officials from NDRF, SDRF, NHIDCL, RVNL, SJVNL and State Government Officials reached the spot immediately. It was decided to lay a pipe through the muck as it was the best and fastest possible solution as per the experts’ advice”. However, after initial attempt to lay pipe with Auger machine available with UK Jal Nigam, it was decided to get bigger American Auger Machine which was air-lifted from Delhi with the help of Air Force. Another Auger Machine was airlifted from Indore. “However, on November 17, there was a sound of earth movement and the sensors corroborated movement of earth and it became unsafe to continue with this option without securing the structure. Considering the lives involved, it was decided to move on all possible fronts together so that the workers can be rescued as early as possible,” added the sources.

 

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