Uttarakhand: Officials expect positive news in efforts to save trapped workers very soon

As anxieties around the 40 trapped workers in the Silkyara Tunnel in Uttarakhand increase, a ray of hope has emerged with the authorities expecting positive news to emerge within a day. “We started drilling using an auger machine at 12:45 am and I am happy to share that we have drilled 39 metres and also inserted a pipe of 800mm. We are progressing well. We are also doing horizontal drilling from Barkot side and have entered till 7.9 metres. As long as we reach 45-50 metres inside the tunnel, we will not be able to give you the exact time. If there are no obstacles, some big news may be received tonight or tomorrow morning. An iron rod has also come along with the debris. It is a matter of happiness that this iron in the middle of laying the pipeline did not create any problems for us,” Additional Secretary Technical, Road and Transport, Mahmood Ahmed said. 

Five public sector agencies namely ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation), SJVN (Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam), RVNL (Rail Vikas Nigam Limited ), NHIDCL (National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd), and THDC (Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited) have been involved in a joint effort to rescue the trapped workers.