The rescue operation to free 41 workers trapped in Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel resumed after a six-hour delay caused by an iron mesh obstructing the drilling machine’s path. Former advisor to the prime minister’s office, Bhaskar Khulbe, mentioned that removing the mesh in the confined environment inside the pipe was challenging, compounded by a lack of oxygen. The workers have been trapped for 11 days after a section of the under-construction tunnel on the Char Dham route collapsed. Drilling is expected to take 12 to 14 hours, followed by the insertion of steel pipes and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) entering the pipe to facilitate the workers’ extraction. Food, medicines, and essentials are being sent through a tube, and the process of welding pipes beyond 45 meters has resumed. Union Minister Gen V K Singh and NDRF Director General Atul Karwal are overseeing the rescue efforts. The operation is anticipated to conclude by Thursday night if no further obstructions are encountered during drilling. Relatives of the trapped workers express hope for a safe evacuation, with post-rescue plans in place for immediate medical care.
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