Workers trapped in tunnel will be pulled out using wheeled stretchers; rescue operations will resume soon

NEW DELHI: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said that the 41 workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand will be brought out using wheeled stretchers. They also said that stretchers would be taken to the workers through the pipeline to extricate the workers. NDRF personnel on Friday released a video demonstrating the movement of wheeled stretchers through the pipeline.

It was expected that all 41 workers could be rescued by yesterday dawn. However, the rescue efforts hit a roadblock after the blades of the drilling auger machine got damaged for the second time after hitting an iron layer among the debris in the tunnel. According to reports, the drilling has been halted due to the delay in repairing the machine and removing the iron layer. Experts are trying to cut the iron layer. Carrying tools, including gas cutters, the experts have got inside the pipe.

Ten pipes are required to bring the workers out of the tunnel. Now the tenth pipe is being welded. Experts are considering adding one more pipe apart from this. Rescue workers can reach the trapped workers if they drill some more metres through the debris. NDRF Director General Atul Karwal said that if there are no more hindrances, the rescue mission could be completed by Friday morning. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reached the place yesterday and assessed the situation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Dhami.