Uttarkashi tunnel rescue: All 41 trapped workers successfully pulled out
What's the story
After 17 days of excruciating rescue operations, all 41 workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi were finally pulled out to safety.
They were evacuated on wheeled stretchers through a steel chute after rat-hole miners horizontally drilled through the rubble after an auger machine failed.
Among the trapped workers, 15 are from Jharkhand, eight from Uttar Pradesh, five each from Bihar and Odisha, three from West Bengal, two each from Assam and Uttarakhand, and one from Himachal Pradesh.
Twitter Post
Visuals from Uttarkashi tunnel rescue site
#WATCH | Uttarkashi tunnel rescue | Ambulances leave from the Silkyara tunnel site as all the workers trapped inside the tunnel since November 12 have been successfully rescued. pic.twitter.com/fJJ4Jfc3vw
— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2023
Context
Why does this story matter?
A portion of the 4.5km under-construction Silkyara tunnel collapsed on November 12. It is part of the ambitious Char Dham all-weather road project.
The mental and physical state of the workers remained a concern as they remained without proper food, ventilation, or sunlight for days.
The episode also serves as a wake-up call for environmental assessment and structural norms—especially in Himalayan projects—which were allegedly skipped in the Silkyara tunnel's construction, as in many others.
Details
5-7 minutes required to pull each worker out
The rescuers started pulling the trapped workers out late on Tuesday evening. Per officials, five to seven minutes were required to pull each of them out.
The whole extraction process took nearly two hours.
Meanwhile, a green corridor for 41 ambulances, one for each worker, has reportedly been set up to rush them to emergency medical services in Chinyalisaur, around 30km from the rescue site.
More details
Acclimatization to surface conditions
Before the rescuers started extracting the trapped workers, a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team reportedly went down through the pipe laid into the tunnel.
They assessed their mental and physical condition and guided them through the safety and rescue protocols.
The rescue process also involved re-acclimatization of each trapped worker to the surface conditions.
A temporary medical check-up center was established at the site, where each worker was examined and provided first aid before being transported in the ambulances.
CM Dhami
CM Dhami meets rescued workers
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who is present at the site, has met some of the workers who have been evacuated from the Silkyara tunnel.
The families of the trapped workers were also seen eagerly waiting outside the tunnel to see their loved ones. Some locals also distributed sweets and bursted firecrackers to celebrate their arrival.
Modi's tweet
Your courage, patience is inspiring: PM Modi
Lauding those involved in the rescue operation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the successful evacuation of the trapped workers was "an emotional moment for everyone."
"To the workers who were trapped, I want to say that your courage and patience is inspiring," he posted on X in Hindi.
"Their relatives showed immense patience and courage in the testing times... Every individual involved in this rescue mission has set an example of humanity and teamwork," PM Modi added.
What Next?
Army, Air Force, numerous agencies worked round clock
Five public sector agencies—Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Sutluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDCL)—were tasked with the rescue efforts.
Subsequently, engineers from the Indian Army were also called in.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Indian Air Force, and Defence Research & Development Organisation, among others, were also involved in the operation.
Insights
Trapped workers' families brought in earlier
The development comes a week after the rescuers delivered those trapped in the tunnel their first solid food in over a week. They sent khichdi in bottles down a six-inch diameter pipe.
Until then, they had been supplied with dry fruits, snack items, and fruits like oranges and bananas.
The families of the workers were brought in earlier and accommodated in hotels close to the tunnel. The Uttarakhand government said it would cover their travel and accommodation expenses.
Information
How workers coped with stress
A landline connection was established for the workers on Saturday, and they were also previously provided mobile phones and board games to alleviate stress. Doctors had earlier advised them to do yoga and engage in uplifting conversations.
Details
Drilling faced multiple challenges
Rat-hole miners were called after a blade of the auger machine broke and got stuck into the rubble in the rescue operation's last leg. Extracting the blade stuck in the wall of debris took time.
A 25-ton auger machine reportedly managed to drill through around 45m of rubble, allowing linearly welded steel pipes to be pushed into the drilled hole for the workers to come out.
The American-made 175-horsepower auger machine was flown in after a 35hp auger machine failed.
Facts
Vertical drilling neared reaching trapped workers
After the auger machine's broken blade obstructed horizontal drilling, rescue personnel even resorted to vertical drilling.
The rescue team was also drilling 86m down from the top of the hill above the tunnel to reach the workers. Multiple simultaneous drilling exercises were underway.
In addition to drilling through the main entrance, rescue teams started blasting and drilling from the far end of the unfinished tunnel toward Barkot, which is nearly half a kilometer long, as an alternative escape route.