A week after the accident, Center employs a ‘5 Option Action Plan’ to evacuate the 41 workers trapped inside the Uttarakhand tunnel

It has been over a week since 41 construction workers have been trapped in debris after a portion of the Silkyara tunnel caved in on November 12. The rescue operations were temporarily halted on Friday night and resumed soon after, following a ‘large-scale cracking sound’ that was reported from the drilling machine. The central government has now rolled out a 5 option action plan for the speedy evacuation of those trapped inside. Prime Minister Naraendra Modi has been in talks with the Uttrakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and has assured unwavering support in the ongoing rescue efforts.

The 5 option action plan entail operations carried out by 5 different agencies that include drilling the tunnel from 3 fronts to get to the workers. This plan was drafted by the authorities after a comprehensive discussion with the experts, exploring all viable options to get to the trapped workers at the earliest. "Five options were decided and five different agencies were detailed to carry out these options. Five agencies namely Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited(RVNL), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDCL) have been assigned responsibilities," said Anurag Jain, Transport and Highways Secretary. He further added that this decision has been taken to save ‘precious lives.’ The Border Roads Organization and the construction wing of the Indian Army have been working in tandem and cooperating with the rescue efforts.

The 5 options that have been narrowed down by the authorities include, vertical drilling from the top of the tunnel by Satluj Jail Vidyut Nigam, Rail Vikas Nigam’s work on another pipeline in addition to the drilled by the BRO for sending essential supplies, the ONGC starting to drill from the other end, the National Highways and Infrastructure Development body will continue to drill from the main Silkyara end, and Tehri Hydro Development Corporation’s micro-drilling.

The under construction tunnel, a part of the Char Dham Project, and infrastructural upgrade aimed to facilitate hassle free commute between the Hindu pilgrimage sites of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri, collapsed on November 12 trapping 41 workers in the debris. Rescue operations are underway and the basic amenities such as food, water and oxygen is being supplied to the workers inside through steel pipes which have been drilled in.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and taken an account of the ground situation, and has assured continued support to the ongoing rescue operations.

"If the auger machine works properly, we will be able to reach them in the next 2-2.5 days. Roads are being made by BRO (Border Roads Organisition) to bring in special machines,” said Nitin Gadkari, the Union Transport Minister who visited the accident site with the Uttarakhand CM on Sunday.

Families of those trapped inside have reached the accident site and continue to wait outside the tunnel with hope diminishing every passing day. The medical fraternity has also raised concerns, and have suggested the need for comprehensive rehabilitation of the 41 workers who have been trapped inside.