All 41 workers trapped in the Silk Yara Tunnel in Uttarakhand for the last 16 days were rescued safely on Tuesday. As soon as this news reached the families of the workers today, there was celebration there. There was an atmosphere of celebration after the rescue of the workers trapped in the tunnel. Many families celebrated Diwali and distributed sweets on Tuesday night. Videos and photos of celebrations in the families of workers have emerged from different states. On the 17th day, rescue workers who were carrying out operations on a war footing to rescue workers trapped in the four and a half kilometre long Silkyara-Barkot tunnel under construction on the Chardham Yatra route collapsed on November 12.
All the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand for the last 16 days were safely taken out one by one on Tuesday through those 800 mm pipes. A path was made by drilling through the debris. On the 17th day, rescue workers who were carrying out operations on a war footing to rescue workers trapped in the four and a half kilometre long Silkyara-Barkot tunnel under construction on the Chardham Yatra route collapsed on November 12.
PM gave instructions to boost morale, five plans prepared to save
There were many obstacles in the rescue operation but ultimately success was achieved. JCB was first deployed to remove the debris in the tunnel but it was not successful due to debris falling from above, after which an American auger machine was ordered and drilling in the debris was started. However, after drilling 47 meters inside the debris, parts of the auger machine got stuck inside the debris and the rescue operation was hampered. The parts of the machine were cut and separated by ordering a plasma cutter from Hyderabad and after that, hand drilling was started on Monday with the help of ‘rat hole mining’ technique.
Laborers trapped in tunnel, CM arrives to meet them
Expressing happiness, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the happiness on the faces of the workers and their families is their ‘Egas and Bagwal’ (Diwali celebrated in the hilly areas ten days after Diwali). He attributed the success of the operation to the promptness of the rescue team, technical help, the vitality of the workers trapped inside, the moment-to-moment monitoring by the Prime Minister and the grace of the Boukhnag deity. The Chief Minister also ordered the officials to provide good medical facilities to the workers if necessary.
During this, along with science, faith was also used. The villagers and families of workers around Silkyara prayed to God for the safe release of their loved ones. Along with this, Chief Minister Dhami, Union Minister Singh and President of ‘International Tunneling and Underground Space Association’ Arnold Dix, who was called to cooperate in the rescue operations, also bowed their heads at the local deity Boukhnag temple outside the tunnel and prayed to God for the safe evacuation of the workers. Asked for blessings from.
PM Modi congratulated the rescue team
According to news agency PTI, the first worker came out of the tunnel at 7.56 pm. After this, all the workers were taken out one by one. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the rescue workers for the success of the Silkyara rescue operation. He said, ‘I salute the spirit of all the people associated with this rescue operation. His bravery has given new life to our labor brothers. In such a situation, let us tell you the complete story of ‘Operation Silkyara’.
On November 12, the day of Diwali, 41 laborers were trapped after a landslide in the Silkyara-Dandalgaon tunnel on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri highway in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. A rescue operation was immediately started to bring them out safely. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami got information about the incident and he reached the spot to meet the workers the very next day. He talked to the workers with the help of oxygen supply pipe and ordered to speed up the rescue.
Horizontal drilling started
In the initial phase of the rescue operation, horizontal drilling was started from 14 November. For this, the help of auger machine was taken, through which a tunnel had to be dug and 800-900 mm steel pipe had to be fitted in it. However, two workers were injured after being hit by the debris. Food, water and medicines also started being supplied to the workers through the same pipe through which oxygen was being supplied.
Only 24 meters of drilling had been done with the new auger machine when something went wrong. After this a new auger machine was delivered from Indore. Then on November 17, the operation had to be stopped because cracks were seen inside the tunnel. The next day, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) officials and experts prepared five evacuation plans, including alternative methods like vertical drilling, to save the workers.
