Uttarkashi: Efforts to rescue 40 workers and engineers trapped in Silkyara tunnel since November 12th are ongoing. Working overnight with a powerful machine, rescue workers had by Friday morning drilled up to 21 metres through the rubble in tunnel, inching closer to the 40 labourers trapped there for five days. An American drilling machine is being used to create a ‘tunnel within the tunnel’ for the rescue operation. The trapped individuals, hailing from eight different states, have been stuck approximately 245 meters from the tunnel’s entrance since a part of it collapsed on Sunday morning. Frustrated by the delays in the rescue attempts, workers and relatives are calling for more decisive action.

To aid the rescue mission, international experts, particularly from Thailand and Norway, have been approached for online advice. The Indian Air Force airlifted a large American drilling machine in two parts on Wednesday, assembled it on-site, and began horizontal drilling on Thursday. The trapped workers are from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.

Experts note that tunneling methods generally involve either the ‘Drill and Blast’ technique or the use of expensive ‘Tunnel Boring Machines’ (TBMs). While TBMs are safer, they are more suitable for longer tunnels and not ideal for shorter mountainous terrains. The accident might have occurred due to overlooked loose rocks or water seepage weakening the rocks after the initial tunneling. Geologists use instruments like ‘Stress Meters’ and ‘Deformation Meters’ to assess rock strength, and samples are typically examined before project commencement. International assistance and expertise are being sought to ensure a successful and swift rescue operation.