Rescue progress in Uttarkashi: 31 meters drilled, manual operation to start soon

The rescue operations in the Uttarkashi tunnel collapse continue as 31 meters of vertical drilling have been completed, with plans to initiate manual drilling soon. On the 16th day of the operation, agencies are actively exploring various strategies to rescue the 41 workers trapped in the collapsed section of the tunnel. The vertical drilling in Silkyara, Uttarakhand, commenced on Sunday afternoon, targeting the excavation of around 110 meters of the hill.

In a rapid operation, the vertical drilling machine has already penetrated 20 meters into the ground, leaving approximately 86 meters to be drilled. The use of this machine became necessary after the American auger faced difficulties in horizontal drilling and got stuck in a metal grinder during the initial stages of the operation.

The rescue mission includes provisions of fresh cooked food, water, and medical supplies through a small 6-inch tunnel inserted into the rubble for the trapped workers. Once the vertical drilling is complete, the plan is to airlift the workers out of the collapsed tunnel using a chopper and a harness rope. The rescue operations are expected to take another 24 hours as the final phase of the mission is currently in progress.