Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse: Progress in identifying vertical drilling location and boosts hope on Day 11

Rescue operations to evacuate the 41 workers who were trapped in debris after the Uttarakhand tunnel caved in on November 12 have entered the 11th day. The location to facilitate vertical drilling was identified on Wednesday morning. The Border Roads Organisation has also constructed roads to ensure hassle-free movement of the machinery. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in talks with the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and he was updated about the progress made in the last 24 hours.

Taking to social media platform ‘X’, the Uttarakhand CM stated that he is receiving ‘continuous guidance’ from the Prime Minister. “Informed the respected Prime Minister about the rescue operations conducted with mutual coordination between central agencies, international experts, and the state administration. During this, he was also informed about the positive progress made in the last 24 hours and the morale boosted by the talks between the workers and their families,” posted Pushkar Singh Dhami.

The location for the vertical drilling has been identified, and the road construction needed for the functioning of the machines has also been ensured. "The location for vertical drilling has been identified. Road work for vertical drilling on the hill above the tunnel is almost complete. More than 350 meters of road construction work is complete. BRO is building a road from both Silkyara and Barkot sides which is almost complete," said Anshu Manish Khulko, Director of National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation.

In a major breakthrough in the ongoing rescue efforts, visuals surfaced on Tuesday morning, providing a first glimpse of the laborers trapped within the collapsed Silkyara tunnel situated in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand. The visuals were captured by an endoscopic camera sent in through a 6-inch pipeline. The endoscopic camera inserted via the alternate six-inch food pipeline showed visuals of trapped workers clad in yellow and white hard helmets. The video captures the workers receiving food items through the pipeline and engaging in conversations with one another. On Tuesday evening, the trapped workers were sent hot food through the 6-inch alternate pipe that was pushed in on Monday night.

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. ONGC, SJVNL, RVNL, NHIDCL, and THDCL have been carrying out rescue operations ever since. As a part of the rescue efforts, the Indian Air Force deployed the C-17 and C-130 J Super Hercules transport aircraft to airlift essential equipment to the location of the Silkyara tunnel collapse in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand.

An official on Tuesday stated that there is an expectation of favorable news within the next 40 hours. Despite encountering difficulties over the past nine days, recent advancements, commencing from Monday night, have sparked hope for a breakthrough in the ongoing rescue operation.​