Personnel from the Madras Sappers regiment of the Army’s Corps of Engineers were mobilized on Sunday to address the hindrance in the rescue operation at the Silkyara tunnel. The auger drilling machine blades had become lodged, halting the mission to rescue 41 trapped workers.
Efforts included deploying a plasma cutting machine from IAF, which proved ineffective. Subsequently, Army personnel, in collaboration with a private company, utilized gas cutting machines to dislodge the auger machine parts.
As part of the contingency plan, vertical drilling commenced on Sunday evening, with preparations made a day prior. Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited, the assigned agency, had drilled 19.2 meters of the required 86 meters, as of the latest report. Mahmood Ahmed, MD of NHIDCL, anticipates using a drilling rig to expedite the process and aims to complete vertical drilling within the next four days.
Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (retd), NDMA member, emphasized that after drilling through the hill, the tunnel’s crust must be cut for the workers’ rescue. If successful, a bucket-lifting method will be employed.
NHIDCL reported operational challenges during the auger cutting process, causing a temporary halt. Damaged sections of the auger, lodged in the escape passage, have been recovered up to 39 meters, leaving approximately 8 meters pending. This meticulous process may extend until Monday.
Upon clearing the escape passage, the rescue plan involves manual digging and inserting pipes through the auger to reach the stranded workers. This approach is deemed the safest and is expected to be executed in the next couple of days.
