Old & tested method helps rescue workers

As the inexorable progression of time unfolded, the lives of 41 miners ensnared within the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi hung precariously by a thread, marking the onset of the 17th day of their confinement. The rescue team, led by Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, and General V.K. Singh, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways (in Army tradition stuck to post till last; actually, has been instrumental in bringing back Indians from the war-torn countries as well) steadfastly clung to the hope of extricating the trapped miners from the subterranean darkness, as endeavours by multipurpose and multinational agencies, coupled with their technologies, proved futile.

Despite a prevailing sense of despair and the resignation of many to the inevitable, intermittent moments of both success and failure punctuated this challenging situation. Notably, a glimmer of hope emerged through established communication with the workers, who received sustenance, including hot food, water, vitamins and essential supplies to preserve their health. Moreover, the presence of Union Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and over and above all, messages emphasising the collective efforts to secure their safe retrieval served to bolster the morale of the trapped workers.

In an urgent bid to expedite the rescue operation and surmount the constraints of time, the decision was made to deploy the time-tested auger machine – a substantial horizontal drill – to reach the trapped workers. Initial optimism surrounded this endeavour, only to be dashed by ill-fated circumstances as the machine’s blade fractured while cutting through unyielding rocks, becoming ensnared in the resulting debris.

Despite moments of despair and gloom among the anxious relatives of the workers, Chief Minister Dhami and Minister Singh exhibited unwavering resolve near the debris, refusing to capitulate. Presenting an alternative plan, they judiciously employed indigenous rat-mining technology, a decision that ultimately yielded dividends. Finally, the destined day dawned, and at 7:45 p.m. during the crepuscular hours, the first miner emerged from the tunnel – a moment of relief for 1.43 billion people who had awaited this triumph with bated breath. This rare moment of historical reckoning resonated as a testament to the resilience of a grateful nation.

On the evening of November 29, 41 workers emerged from the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, concluding their 17-day ordeal in the dark, under-construction passage that commenced on the auspicious morning of November 12, coinciding with Deepavali. This marked the culmination of one of the most challenging and perilous rescue operations undertaken in India. Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain, a member of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), lauded the exceptional efforts of the rat-hole miners, who, through their tenacity, managed to excavate a remarkable 10 meters in less than 24 hours. Rat-hole mining, involving the excavation of narrow tunnels, typically three to four feet high, for the extraction of coal, proved instrumental. In the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, at least 12 experts were engaged by Trenchless Engineering Services Pvt Ltd and Navayuga Engineers Pvt Ltd to deploy the rat-hole mining technique horizontally in the collapsed section of the main structure.

Instead of being conveyed on wheeled stretchers through a steel tube lining the 60-metre rescue shaft, the labourers opted to crawl out, as reported by Dhami. Chief Minister Dhami and Union Minister Singh welcomed the workers as National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel assisted them in a safe exit. The conclusion of the ordeal prompted expressions of joy, including hugs and cheers, with some local villagers celebrating with crackers. Outside the tunnel, chants of ‘Har Har Mahadev,’ ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai,’ and slogans praising Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Dhami resonated.

At approximately 8 p.m., an ambulance carrying the first of the 41 workers exited the tunnel, an hour after rat-hole mining experts cleared the final stretch of rubble, bringing relief to a nation captivated by televised updates. Commendation is due to the ABP TV news channel for its commendable live coverage of the rescue operation, with four correspondents and cameramen exhibiting competence and professionalism. Anchors in the studio played a pivotal role admirably, and the strategic placement of correspondents by the ABP channel management ensured the timely dissemination of the latest updates from the upheaval site.