Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue: Vertical Drilling to Reach 41 Trapped Laborers
Efforts intensify as SJVN prepares for vertical drilling to rescue 41 laborers trapped for 14 days in the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand.
DESK – A Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) team is poised to commence vertical drilling at the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel to rescue 41 trapped laborers.
Despite challenges, the 12-person SJVN Limited crew is ready, awaiting approval to start the critical vertical drilling process.
The team plans to drill vertically from the tunnel’s top, spanning a depth of 85 to 90 meters, to reach the trapped workers.
SJVN’s expertise in hydroelectric and thermal power projects, including tunneling, is key to their involvement in this rescue operation.
Ajit Pal from Parsan Overseas Pvt. Ltd., Delhi, conducted an Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) study to locate a safe drilling spot above the tunnel.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has coordinated with ONGC to mobilize vertical boring equipment from various locations for the operation.
SJVN and ONGC’s collaboration is crucial in deciding the approach to the vertical drilling.
Railways have transported a 75-tonne vertical drilling machine from Gujarat and Odisha, crucial for the rescue.
The Border Roads Organization (BRO) facilitated access to the site for the vertical tunnel drilling equipment.
Officials announced the commencement of manual drilling to aid the rescue of the 41 workers stranded in the collapsed tunnel.
The US-made heavy-duty Auger drilling equipment, faced with obstructions, may soon be replaced in the operation.
The manual drilling process aims to cut through the rubble, expediting the rescue effort.
As of Saturday, the rescue mission has been ongoing for 14 days since the tunnel collapse on November 12.
Parsan Overseas Pvt Ltd Delhi used GPR to assess the tunnel, ensuring no heavy objects were present up to 5 meters inside the rescue tunnel.
The rescue team has opted for manual drilling to minimize delays and efficiently extend the pipeline to reach the trapped workers.
