41 lives freed from the tunnel: This is how rescue teams won the ‘battle’ of life
Uttarkashi/Source: The moment for which crores of people across the country and the world were eagerly waiting for the last 17 days, finally arrived on Tuesday. This was the moment when 41 workers trapped in the under construction tunnel located in Silkyara (Uttarakashi) of Uttarakhand since 12th November, came out safely amid the slogan of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and fireworks.
One battle of life was being fought by the workers trapped in the tunnel and the other outside the tunnel were many experts from India and abroad, public representatives, relatives of the workers and local villagers. The central and state governments had put in all their strength to take the war to its destination.
Life finally won
In the relief and rescue battle that lasted for about 400 hours, life finally won and the workers trapped in the tunnel breathed open air. The happiness on the faces of the workers after coming out of the tunnel safely cannot be expressed in words. Even though the workers had won the battle of life. But the feelings of victory were also floating on the faces of the heroes of the machinery standing outside.
These were the feelings of happiness of reaching the destination of a very complex campaign, for which everyone was praying. This is probably the first such major operation in the country, which continued for such a long period and yet all the victims were evacuated safely.
trumpet of victory of life
In the continuous battle of relief and rescue that has been going on for 17 days, the trumpet of victory of life was sounded at around 1.30 pm on Tuesday afternoon, when the last steel pipe of the exit tunnel at 57 meters penetrated the debris and reached the workers trapped inside. However, the obstacles that had been arising in the campaign since the beginning were still continuing.
When NDRF and SDRF personnel entered through the exit tunnel to take out the workers, they found that water had accumulated at the place where the pipe crossed. In such a situation, it was decided to extend the pipe further, so that the workers remain safe in case of water or fresh debris coming from above.
After this, three more meters of pipe was added to the exit tunnel and pushed further. This work took about three more hours. After all the arrangements were finalized, NDRF and SDRF personnel again entered the tunnel and without wasting a moment started taking out the workers one by one from the stretcher trolley.
In about one and a half hours, all the workers were transported from the exit tunnel to the open part of the tunnel at the other end. A medical camp was already ready here for the health checkup of the workers. It was a matter of relief that the health of all the workers was found to be normal. There was an atmosphere like Diwali for the workers who had won the battle of life.
Everyone saluted the courage of the workers
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami himself, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways General (Senior) VK Singh and many officials were standing with garlands to welcome and encourage the workers. Everyone saluted the morale of the workers and then they were taken to the Community Health Center at Chinyalisaur through an ambulance already parked for thorough health check-up.
A large number of local villagers including relatives of the workers were present in the tunnel area to witness this unforgettable moment. Feelings of satisfaction and gratitude for the victory achieved by the confluence of science and faith were floating on his face, while there was a glow of happiness and relief in his eyes. Because, during these 17 days, the ever-changing circumstances and obstacles had severely tested everyone’s patience.
The view of Silkyara had changed since morning
Tuesday morning in Silkyara started with hope, excitement and enthusiasm unlike other days. By daybreak, it was decided that the workers trapped in the tunnel would soon be able to breathe in the open air. Because, by then, with the rush of relief and rescue machinery increasing, the arrangements for carrying out the operation had started gaining momentum. The ambulance convoy had moved towards the tunnel and SDRF soldiers along with NDRF had taken up the position. A medical camp was prepared inside the tunnel to conduct health check-up of the workers imprisoned in the tunnel as soon as they came out.
Rat miners reached destination
A 46.9 meter portion of the auger machine making the exit tunnel got stuck during drilling on the evening of November 24. The only option was to cut it out. In such a situation, it was decided to prepare the remaining nine to 12 meter exit tunnel manual. For this work, a 28-member team of rat miners was deployed on the front. Rat miners completed this extremely challenging task within 24 hours by going inside the 800 mm diameter pipe. This team started the work of cutting and digging iron with the help of gas cutter, plasma cutter, laser cutter and hand driller from Monday evening.
Obstacles tested us a lot, courage took us to the destination
This battle to save the lives trapped in the tunnel has not been easy in any era. On November 12, at around 5.30 am, when a landslide occurred in the under-construction tunnel of Chardham Alvedar Road Project on Yamunotri Highway in Silkyara, 50 km from Uttarkashi district headquarters, 41 workers from eight states working there were trapped inside.
A 60-metre barrier of heavy debris had formed between the workers and the opening towards the main entrance of the tunnel. The operation to save the workers was started immediately by providing oxygen to the workers through a four-inch water pipeline.
moment-to-moment test of patience
In this operation that started with the removal of debris that was obstructing the tunnel, no one had imagined that it would last so long and would test patience from moment to moment. Initially, when the company constructing the tunnel, Navyug, and the executing agency NHIDCL started removing the debris, the same amount of debris kept coming down from the hill side. This situation was indicating that this part of the tunnel could collapse completely.
Seeing the seriousness of the situation, the PMO immediately took command of relief and rescue and deployed all the central and state agencies in Silkyara.
Expectations increased after drilling started with auger machine
The first hope of safely evacuating the workers trapped in the tunnel came to fruition when the Auger machine, which had been closed since 17th November, started drilling again at 1.45 am on 21st November. Drilling of the exit tunnel to evacuate the workers was completed to 45 meters around midnight on 22 November.
There was only a distance of 12 to 15 meters left to reach the workers, when the biggest difficulties were faced in penetrating the blocked part of the tunnel. Because, in this part there were not only thick bars, but also thick pipes, heavy wires and strong ribs of the tunnel roof and many girders.
After 45 meters of drilling, there was heavy vibration in the auger machine and a part of the machine broke while penetrating the strong iron barriers. Besides, the 800 mm diameter pipe also got badly bent from the front. Due to heavy pressure, the platform of the auger machine had also shifted from its place.
Drilling resumed on the evening of 24 November
After overcoming these challenges, drilling was started again on the evening of 24 November, but after 2.5 meters the iron barriers again created problems. This time the auger machine itself got stuck, more than 46 meters of which had to be cut and removed. Besides, the pipe of the exhaust tunnel was also cut by two metres. Most of the work was done manually, which continued till the last stage.
