The NDMA member further said a very difficult operation is going on. Two methods are being used currently, but a third method that is drift method could also be used soon. Currently, 47-meter horizontal drilling has been completed, he said, adding the broken part of the auger machine has to be removed, and the drilled structure has to be kept stable.
Vertical drilling may start in the "next 24 to 36 hours" as machines are being placed on a platform on top of the tunnel, he said. About 86 meters of vertical drilling is needed to reach the crust of the tunnel, and thereafter it will be broken to reach the trapped workers, he explained.
Rescue efforts for the 41 trapped workers at the Silkyara tunnel hit a setback as drilling paused due to a platform issue after cracks emerged, the third delay since the collapse on November 12. Stabilizing the platform with shotcreting was underway after a six-hour halt to remove an obstacle on Wednesday. Despite efforts, technical snags persist in the ongoing multi-agency rescue mission.
Rescue workers are set to begin drilling at the collapsed Silkyara tunnel after a delay of several hours due to a technical issue. The operation will resume after welding another section of steel pipes to the chute. Ground penetrating radar indicates no metal hurdles up to five meters ahead of the passage. InI
Drone cameras monitor the situation of 41 trapped workers in Uttarkashi s Silkyara tunnel, stuck for 13 days after its collapse. The cutting-edge drones track inside the tunnels, aiding rescue efforts. Cyriac Joseph from Squadrone Infra and Mining Pvt Limited confirms the drone s advanced capabilities. Rescue teams aim to ensure the trapped workers safety, as officials continue the complex rescue operation.