U’khand Tunnel Collapse: Why Are 41 Workers Still Trapped?

Rescue workers stand at an entrance of the under construction road tunnel, days after it collapsed at Uttarkashi (Image: AFP)

A week ago, 41 workers were trapped inside an under-construction tunnel at Silkyara in Uttatrakhand’s Uttarkashi district. This followed parts of the structure collapsing following a landslide last Sunday.

Given below is a timeline of the disaster and the ensuing rescue efforts:

November 12: As portions of the Silkyara-Dandalgaon under-construction tunnel on the Brahmkhal-Yamunotri highway collapse following a landslide at around 5.30 am on the day of Diwali, workers are trapped.

Rescue efforts are launched by the district administration and arrangements made to supply oxygen, electricity and eatables to the trapped labourers through air-compressed pipes.

Multiple agencies, including the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), project executing agency National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), join rescue efforts.

November 13: Through a pipe meant to supply oxygen to the trapped workers, contact is established with them and they are reported to be safe. Rescue efforts continue as chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visits the site.

Not much progress is made in removing the debris accumulated on the collapsed part of the tunnel as fresh rubble keeps falling from above, further complicating the task of the rescuers. As a result, the debris accumulated in an area of around 30 metres spreads to 60 metres.

A plan is devised to stabilise the loose soil inside the tunnel applying the method of shotcreting (spraying concrete). It is decided to then insert large-diametre steel pipes through the rubble to prepare an escape passage for those trapped inside.

November 14: Steel pipes of a diameter of 800 and 900 mm are brought to the tunnel site to be inserted through the rubble with the help of an auger machine for horizontal digging. However, the efforts suffer a setback when more rubble falls from the cavity created by the cave-in and causes minor injuries to two rescue workers.

The trapped workers are supplied food, water, oxygen, electricity and medicines as some of them complain of nausea and headache. Meanwhile, a team of experts begins a survey of the tunnel and surrounding areas for soil testing.

November 15: Dissatisfied with the performance of the first drilling machine, NHIDCL asks for a state-of-the-art American auger machine, which is airlifted from Delhi to speed up rescue efforts.

November 16: The high-performance drilling machine is assembled and installed. It starts working past midnight.

November 17: The machine drills about 24 metres through the rubble by afternoon and four MS pipes with a length of six metres each are inserted, after it works overnight. The process comes to a halt when the fifth pipe hits an obstacle. Damage to the machine is also reported.

Yet another high-performance auger machine is flown down from Indore to assist in the rescue efforts following a request from NHIDCL. In the evening, the NHIDCL reports that at around 2.45 pm on Friday, during the positioning of the fifth pipe, a big cracking sound was heard in the tunnel and the rescue effort was immediately suspended.

The sound creates panic among the rescue team members. An expert involved in the project warns about the possibility of further collapse in the vicinity. Subsequently, the drilling and pipe-pushing activity is stopped.

November 18: Experts feel that the vibrations created by the diesel-driven 1,750-horse power heavy-duty auger inside the tunnel might cause more debris to collapse, posing a risk to the lives of the rescue personnel. Drilling does not resume on Saturday.

Alternative options are explored by a team of officials from the prime minister’s office (PMO) and experts who decide to work on five evacuation plans simultaneously, including vertical drilling through the top of the tunnel to rescue the trapped labourers.