Dehradun 17th November. Buro chief Tarun Mohan: On the instructions of Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, Additional Chief Secretary Smt.Radha Raturi reached the disaster control room located at the Secretariat today and took the update of the ongoing rescue operation in Silkyara, Uttarkashi and gave important instructions. ACS Mrs. Radha Raturi inquired about the updated status of the ongoing rescue operation in Silkyara and the well-being of the workers trapped in the tunnel.
Additional Chief Secretary Smt . Radha Raturi was informed by the concerned officials in the disaster control room that Excavation with shotcreting for 40 meter of collapse tunnel is under progress, cavity formed 10 meter above the crown at both left and right side, Chimney formation started along the tunnel. Additional shotcrete machine shifted from RVNL Package-lil to work site. Geotechnical Expert from Authority Engineer, Team Leader, Geological Expert from RVNL, Director (A&F), Director (T) and Executive Director (P) of NHIDCL and CGM, NHAI visited the collapse site periodically. Over the night and subsequently all the option was explored and following option is under implementation:
To push an 900 mm Dia MS Steel Pipe with the help of Hydraulic Jack to evacuate the work force trapped inside.
ACS was informed that Water, food, Oxygen, Electricity all are available with the work force trapped inside the tunnel, small food packets has also been pumped inside the tunnel through one pipe with compressed air. They confirmed the receipt of food items. All the stranded workers are safe as communicated by them.
As of now 22.0 meter pipe pushing has been completed. Positioning of Fifth pipe is under progress.
The progress of work is being monitored by experts with their full effort for successful pushing of steel pipe. Director (A&F), Director (T), Executive Director (P) of NHIDCL and Experts from BRO, NHAI, RVNL, RITES, Indian Railways, USBRL, IRCON, KRCL, Authority’s Engineer, M/s Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd., SJVNL and Designer M/s BERNARD are present at site for close monitoring of rescue operation for early evacuation.
Additional Chief Secretary Smt. Radha Raturi said that the instructions of the Honorable Chief Minister are that all the necessary cooperation and assistance should be provided timely by the administration and officials to all the technical agencies engaged in rescue operations. ACS Smt Raturi said that Chief Minister Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami is constantly taking updates from the agencies engaged in rescue operations and District Magistrate Uttarkashi and is in constant touch with Commissioner Garhwal and IG Garhwal. The Chief Minister has encouraged the team of central agencies engaged in relief and rescue operations. The rescue operation is also being continuously monitored from the Central Government level and the State Government is getting full support.
