On Day 9 of Uttarkashi tunnel collapse, global experts join rescue efforts
Media reports stated that the trapped workers may be facing more hardships on account of contaminated air as efforts for drilling could unleash gases inside the tunnel which may remain trapped. The media reports have also claimed that the safety norms had been violated in the construction of the tunnel.
Silkyara Tunnel
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, November 20: On day nine of the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse which left 41 workers trapped, an international team of tunnelling expert led by Arnold Dix reached the site to join the rescue efforts. Dix told reporters that his team has made an assessment on the ground while he would also look into situations inside the below to make the “best decision as time is ticking away”.
Dix said that he has also spoken to local geology experts to get a sense of the fragile ecosystem. Incidentally, the tunnelling site is said to have one of the most fragile geological situations with even fractured rocks being there.
“We have made the assessment on the ground. We have seen what is there to see from above. Now, we will go to the office to see what is inside the tunnel, and then we will make the best of the decisions. The safety of the workers trapped inside the tunnel is our top concern,” added the tunnelling expert while speaking to local reporters.
Media reports stated that the trapped workers may be facing more hardships on account of contaminated air as efforts for drilling could unleash gases inside the tunnel which may remain trapped. The media reports have also claimed that the safety norms had been violated in the construction of the tunnel.
Union Minister for Road and Transport Nitin Gadkari along with Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Dhami had inspected the Sityara tunnel site on Sunday. With the workers continue to be in trapped conditions for ninth days in a row, their relatives and other workers are growing worried for the safety of the labourers who hail from Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
The challenging, claustrophobic conditions inside the collapsed tunnel are taking a toll on the 41 workers stuck there, according to their fellow workers and relatives.
In a high level meeting, the Centre had tasked several agencies to work on five options for safe rescue of the trapped workers in the tunnel. Earlier, the drilling works, vertical also, had to be stopped because of the challenging conditions. Also, efforts are being made to provide food, medicine and other essentials through the pipe which is used for oxygen supply for the trapped workers.
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