Uttarkashi Triumph: 41 Workers Rescued from Silkyara Tunnel – Unraveling the 17-Day Timeline.

New Delhi: The 41 workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi were successfully rescued on Tuesday, November 28. The workers enduring a harrowing 17-day ordeal were rescued through manual drilling after several failures faced by the rescue team during operation. Here’s the timeline:

November 12, 2023: The Tragedy Unfolds
The saga began on November 12, 2023, when a section of the Silkyara-Dandalgaon under-construction tunnel on the Brahmkhal-Yamunotri highway collapsed due to a landslide. The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 am on the day of Diwali, trapping laborers inside the Silkyara Bend — Barkot tunnel, about 200 meters from the tunnel entrance.

November 13: Immediate Rescue Efforts
Rescue efforts were launched promptly by the district administration, involving around 200 disaster relief personnel equipped with drilling equipment and excavators. The plan aimed to insert 80-centimeter-wide steel pipes through an opening in the excavated debris. Oxygen, electricity, and eatables were supplied to the trapped laborers through air-compressed pipes. Multiple agencies, including NDRF, SDRF, BRO, NHIDCL, and ITBP, collaborated in the rescue mission. Contact was established with the trapped workers through a pipe meant for supplying oxygen, and they were reported to be safe.

November 14: Setbacks and Complications
Steel pipes of 800- and 900-millimeter diameter were brought to the tunnel site for horizontal digging. Fresh rubble falling from above complicated the mission, leading to minor injuries among the laborers. The NHIDCL requested a state-of-the-art auger machine, airlifted from Delhi to expedite the operation.

November 15: Auger Machine Upgrade
Dissatisfied with the first drilling machine, the NHIDCL requested a state-of-the-art auger machine, which was airlifted from Delhi to speed up the operation. The drilling machine was assembled and installed, starting its operation past midnight.

November 16-17: Challenges and Setbacks
Rescue workers encountered setbacks, including a broken augur machine, prompting the deployment of a new machine from Indore. The process faced a halt when a big cracking sound was heard in the tunnel, requiring a new high-performance auger machine from Indore. A C-17 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force airlifted critical equipment from Indore to Dehradun.

November 18: High-Level Meeting and Coordination
A high-level meeting was convened to discuss rescue options. Five agencies, including ONGC, SJVNL, RVNL, NHIDCL, and THDCL, were assigned specific tasks based on technical advice. Mahmood Ahmed, NHIDCL MD, was appointed to coordinate with all central agencies. The rescue team had been drilling horizontally through the debris but faced challenges, leading to the consideration of a new plan involving vertical drilling from the top of the mountain.

November 19: Exploring Alternatives
Drilling did not resume as experts feared vibrations from the auger machine might cause more debris to collapse. Five alternative plans were devised, with five different agencies assigned specific tasks. The NHIDCL MD Mahmood Ahmed was designated to coordinate with all central agencies stationed in Silkyara. The focus shifted to manual drilling through the remaining stretch of debris or drilling down 86 meters from above.

November 20: PM Modi’s Intervention
PM Narendra Modi spoke to CM Dhami, emphasizing the need to keep the morale of rescue teams up. Rescuers pushed through a six-inch-wide pipeline through the rubble, allowing larger quantities of food and essentials to reach the trapped workers. Horizontal drilling resumed, with rescuers pushing through a new pipeline to deliver food.

November 21: Rescuers’ Video Release and Alternative Drilling
Rescuers released the first video of the trapped laborers, showcasing them receiving food through the pipeline. Two blasts were set off at the Balkot end to begin drilling another tunnel as an alternative. The NHIDCL resumed overnight horizontal boring operations from the Silkyara end, involving an auger machine.

November 22-23: Drilling Hurdles and Temporary Halts
Ambulances were kept on standby, and a special ward at a local health center was prepared. Drilling faced hurdles, including encountering iron rods and cracks in the platform, leading to temporary halts. Efforts to reach the trapped workers continued with alternative plans.

November 24-25: Auger Machine Challenges
The 25-tonne machine restarted, but fresh hurdles were faced, including hitting a metal girder. The auger drilling machine faced hurdles, and a plasma cutter was airlifted from Hyderabad to overcome challenges. Despite the setbacks, progress was made.

November 26-27: Vertical Drilling and Manual Operations
Vertical drilling of 19.2 meters was initiated, creating an alternative escape route. Madras Sappers from the Indian Army joined the rescue operations. Rat-hole mining experts also contributed to manual drilling and excavation. Vertical and manual drilling operations continued, with the recovery of broken auger machine parts.

November 28: The Breakthrough and Successful Rescue
Finally, after 17 days, the breakthrough came as rescue workers drilled through the remaining 60-meter stretch of rubble. The 41 workers were successfully rescued and taken to the hospital for medical checkups. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami welcomed the workers with garlands, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Murmu congratulated the successful completion of one of the most challenging rescue missions in history.

In conclusion, the Silkyara tunnel rescue operation stands as a remarkable example of effective coordination, technological innovation, and international collaboration. The intricate details of the operation, marked by challenges and triumphs, paint a picture of resilience in the face of adversity. The successful rescue not only brought relief to the trapped workers and their families but also highlighted the importance of unity, adaptability, and leadership in times of crisis.