Tunnel rescue hits another hurdle on Day 6 of ordeal

The efforts to rescue workers trapped in a collapsed under-construction tunnel in Uttarkashi appeared to be faltering on Friday, as a second drilling machine suffered damage, prompting authorities to slow down operations, call in another auger machine, and prepare a contingency plan.

- Amit Bathla

While thus far it was believed that 40 people were trapped inside, officials late on Friday evening said rescuers have now identified 41.

Officials said the workers, who have been trapped behind a 65-70 metre wall of debris for over 130 hours as of Friday evening, reported no deterioration in their condition after having earlier complained of nausea. Nuts, roasted chickpeas, popcorn and medicines were being sent to them via a pipe every two hours, officials said.

"Rescuers have come to know that there are 41 workers trapped inside the tunnel," Devendra Patwal, District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO), said. While the progress in reaching the workers has been slow, officials supervising the operation said that the drilling machine has been able to drill a distance of 22 metres till Friday.

"We have made a significant progress and reached approximately 22 metres inside. Our goal is to reach the opposite side as quickly as possible," National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) director Anshu Manish Khalkho said.

The size of the debris they have to sift through is between 65 to 70 metres, officials confirmed, after initially estimating it to be around 55 metres.

In the process currently being followed, the rescuers are drilling through the debris to push two pipes 800mm and 900mm in diameter-one after the other to create a passage for trapped workers to crawl out of.

Aligning the pipes and welding them before pushing through the debris takes time, Khalko said.