Given that the manual drilling team is just meters away from the stranded 41 labourers who have been stuck in a tunnel in Uttarakhand for 17 days, their rescue is near completion. The operation is almost successful now, despite multiple setbacks due to the challenging terrain. On November 12, the tunnel collapsed, trapping 41 workers inside with no way out. Here are some important updates as the nation sits, crossing fingers, awaiting the operation to be successful.
Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse Updates
When science and spirituality meets faith and devotion, miracles happen.
Congratulations and a big salute to all the rescuers NDRF, NDMA, SDRF, State Police and all volunteers for this incredible live saving effort.#UttarakhandTunnel pic.twitter.com/M5Q7L9Eyx5
— Johns (@JohnyBravo183) November 28, 2023
Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), Member, NDMA, announced during the 4 pm media briefing that rat-hole mining professionals had physically drilled through the last two meters, or 58 meters, to date.
After the first assessment at the site, ambulances are positioned at the tunnel entrance to quickly take the rescued workers to a community health facility about thirty kilometres away for additional testing.
आज प्रातः सिलक्यारा पहुंचकर टनल में चल रहे रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन का स्थलीय निरीक्षण किया। श्रमिकों को बाहर निकालने हेतु 52 मीटर तक पाइप पुश किया जा चुका हैं।
इस दौरान टनल में फंसे श्रमिकों का कुशलक्षेम जाना और चिकित्सकों को श्रमिक भाइयों से निरंतर संपर्क में रहने के निर्देश दिए। सभी… pic.twitter.com/beR3j3A7mS
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 28, 2023
After the auger drilling machines failed to drill the required 60 meters, the rescue teams have been using the rat-hole-mining approach to clear the last few meters of rubble.
As rescue operations to free the 41 miners stranded inside the Silkyara tunnel approached their sixteenth day, rat-hole mining began on Monday night. To enter the tunnels and excavate by hand, at least six rat-hole miners were called from Delhi and Jhansi.
Uttarakhand CM Visited The Site
सिलक्यारा टनल में चल रहे रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन में बड़ी सफलता मिली है, पाइप पुशिंग का कार्य मलबे के आर-पार हो चुका है। अब श्रमिकों को सुरक्षित बाहर निकालने की तैयारी शुरू कर दी गई है। pic.twitter.com/wCMZrWSRSn
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) November 28, 2023
On Tuesday, Uttarakhand’s chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, visited the scene of the collapsed tunnel and assessed the progress being made in rescuing the 41 labourers who had been imprisoned there for sixteen days.
Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi an update over the phone earlier today on the continuing rescue and relief activities.
Here is Professor Arnold Dix, an International Underground and Tunnel Expert, from Australia. He is seen praying at the make-shift Temple at the Uttarkashi Collapsed Tunnel Site.
It is a simple picture, yet a powerful one, that to me conveys, no matter how educated we are, how… pic.twitter.com/cMn26HMVxF— Rupa Murthy (@rupamurthy1) November 28, 2023
Official sources state that the 41 workers’ families have been urged to prepare and keep the workers’ clothing and luggage close at hand as the rescue operation is anticipated to come to a conclusion shortly.
Garlands have been brought to the rescue site. The locals were seen praying at the site near a makeshift temple outside the tunnel. (as per Zee News)
Listen to the Father of a man who is trapped inside the tunnel react on the news of his son coming out.
This video will make your day. #UttarakhandTunnelRescue pic.twitter.com/7JuwNfqlNo
— Roshan Rai (@RoshanKrRaii) November 28, 2023
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Medical Services Ready At The Site
Rescue pipe reached 41 workers trapped inside the tunnel. An ambulance was called outside.#UttarakhandTunnelRescue
— Divya Gandotra Tandon (@divya_gandotra) November 28, 2023
According to the sources, once the workers are rescued from the tunnel, they will be transported to Chinyalisaur Hospital.
Rishikesh AIIMS is ready to provide medical assistance. Within the hospital grounds, a 41-bed unit has been designated for this purpose. The hospital also has a specialized team that includes a trauma surgeon and cardiac and psychiatric physicians.
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences’ Dr. Dinakaran D. believes that the psychological fallout from the recent tunnel collapse may last for several months. The 41 Indian construction workers who were stranded in the collapsed highway tunnel for 17 days will need continuous support and monitoring for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after their rescue, officials said on Tuesday.
Concerning the possibility of PTSD in these workers, Dr. Dinakaran pointed out that all 41 of them might have post-traumatic symptoms like anxiety, recurrent nightmares, insomnia, and flashbacks to the collapse of the tunnel.
We hope and pray for the well-being of these workers and salute their bravery!
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva
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