Tag Archives: Incident

General News

Uttarakhand Tunnel: The first laborer among the 41 workers who were trapped in the under-construction tunnel of Silkyara in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand for the past 17 days has been successfully rescued.

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Uttarakhand Uttarakhand tunnel chief Minister

Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue

In images released by the news agency ANI, workers are seen emerging from the tunnel and being safely transported in an ambulance. The rescued worker has been immediately taken to the health center of Chinyalisaur via ambulance, where they will be monitored by doctors.

Government sources report that both state and central government agencies, along with the army, various organizations, and globally recognized tunnel experts, collaborated in the extensive rescue operation for the trapped workers.

Numerous organizations and personnel, including NDRF, SDRF, BRO, RVNL, SJVNL, ONGC, ITBP, NHAIDCL, THDC, Uttarakhand State Government, District Administration, Indian Army, and Air Force, played crucial roles in the successful execution of the rescue operation.

Jairam Ramesh is a leader from the Congress party, shared on social media that in images from the tunnel, some workers are being brought out through pipes on stretchers. These stretchers are equipped with wheels at the bottom, allowing for easy extraction from within the pipes.

The rescue team initiated vertical drilling in conjunction with manual excavation using the rat-hole mining method, which began on Monday. Twelve experts specializing in rat-hole mining were enlisted to employ handheld tools in confined spaces. However, it’s worth noting that this method is controversial and comes with inherent risks, particularly due to the cramped conditions in which miners operate underground.

Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) entered a steel chute that had been carefully inserted into the drilled passage over several days, systematically extracting each worker.

In anticipation of the rescue operation, a specialized ward equipped with 41 oxygen-supported beds was established at the community health center in Chinyalisaur, located approximately 30 kilometers from Silkyara, to accommodate the rescued workers. Medical staff were on standby, and arrangements were in place to transfer workers to more advanced hospitals if the need arose.

The incident occurred approximately 17 days ago on the day of Diwali when the laborers were working in the tunnel. The collapse of the tunnel resulted in the workers being trapped behind a 70-meter-long wall of debris. Since then, a gradual process of debris removal has been underway, with assistance from both national and international experts.

Miners drilled the final section by hand to reach the workers in the 4.5km (3-mile) tunnel in Uttarakhand.

The men, who were brought out in wheeled stretchers through a 90cm (3ft) wide pipe, were taken to hospital for check-ups. No one was injured.


Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed admiration on Tuesday for the work carried out by various agencies, organizations, and individuals involved in the rescue operation in Uttarkashi.

“I am delighted to hear the news of the successful rescue of all the workers trapped in the tunnel accident in the Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand. The entire nation was closely following these efforts, and the success brings a collective sense of relief to the entire country. It is a moment of joy for the families of the workers, and I extend my congratulations to them,” Singh conveyed in a post on ‘X.’

Singh emphasized the significant contribution made by various agencies engaged in relief and rescue efforts, including NDRF, SDRF, Uttarakhand Police, and the armed forces, in rescuing the laborers under challenging conditions. “I heartily congratulate them,” added the Union Minister.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced on Tuesday that none of the 41 laborers rescued from the under-construction road tunnel in Uttarkashi district was in critical condition.

“All of them were in good health. They managed to crawl out of the passage rather than being transported on stretchers,” Dhami informed reporters shortly after the successful evacuation of the laborers from the Silkyara tunnel.

He mentioned that the laborers, who had been trapped in the tunnel for nearly 17 days following a landslide on November 12, would undergo medical observation before being discharged and sent home.

InShort

Uttarakhand tunnel “12 Meters Left” In Race To Save 41 Workers Trapped

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Uttarakhand tunnel collapse

Mahmood Ahmed, a senior official with Uttarakhand’s Road and Transport Department, said the auger (or earth drilling machine) that was switched on at 12.45 am has drilled 18 meters so far.

Anurag Jain, the secretary of Road Transport and Highways, has expressed that the currently employed American-made Auger drilling machine represents the most viable option at present. He anticipates that the workers could be successfully evacuated within the next 2.5 days. The auger machine encountered a challenging boulder on Friday afternoon, leading to vibrations that prompted a temporary halt in the operation due to safety considerations

Both the state and the central governments have promised to do all they can to bring the 41 workers back up safely, but they have refused to give a definitive timeline for their rescue, noting these are “subject to change due to technical glitches, challenging terrain, and unforeseen emergencies”.

General News

Uttarakhand tunnel collapse : Uttarakhand has gripped the nation’s attention.

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The Uttarakhand tunnel collapse of a tunnel in Uttarakhand has gripped the nation’s attention, casting a spotlight on the paramount importance of infrastructure safety. This incident, which transpired on [date], has spurred immediate rescue endeavors, sparking inquiries into the effectiveness of existing safety measures.

Overview of the Incident

The collapse unfolded in Uttarakhand , where a tunnel integral to crumbled, ensnaring several individuals within its confines. Renowned for its strategic significance in the tunnel succumbed to a myriad of potential causes, including but not limited to geological instability, construction flaws, and natural disasters.

Rescue Operations

In the aftermath of the collapse, rescue teams swiftly mobilized to the site to liberate those entrapped and extend vital medical aid. Executed under the guidance of [local authorities or relevant agencies], the operation encountered various challenges, such as negotiating difficult terrain and contending with adverse weather conditions.

Casualties and Injuries – Uttarakhand tunnel collapse

Official reports substantiate [number] casualties and [number] injuries, underscoring the gravity of the incident. Families of the victims are receiving assistance from local authorities, while the injured are undergoing treatment at nearby medical facilities.

Investigation and Causes

An exhaustive investigation into the tunnel collapse’s origins is currently underway. Preliminary assessments indicate that factors such as structural weaknesses and geological considerations may have contributed. Authorities are collaborating closely with experts to unravel the precise sequence of events leading to the collapse.

Government Response

Reacting to the incident, government officials, including [names of key officials], have conveyed their condolences to the affected families. They have committed to a thorough inquiry into the matter and pledged to implement necessary measures to avert such incidents in the future.

Infrastructure Safety Concerns

The Uttarakhand tunnel collapse has reignited deliberations on the broader safety landscape of infrastructure projects in the region. Scrutiny is being directed towards the adequacy of safety protocols, the quality of construction materials, and the oversight of ongoing projects. This incident serves as a poignant reminder to reevaluate and fortify safety measures across all facets of infrastructure development.

Community Reactions

Communities in Uttarakhand and beyond have voiced their sorrow and apprehensions regarding the incident. Calls for accountability and heightened safety standards resonate, underscoring the imperative for a collaborative effort between the government, contractors, and local communities to ensure the safety of critical infrastructure projects.

The incident took place on the morning of 12 November in the northern state’s Uttarkashi district. Contact with the trapped men was established soon after that and they are being provided oxygen, food and water since then.

On Monday evening, the rescue operation witnessed a breakthrough after rescuers were able to push a six-inch diameter pipe through the debris inside the tunnel.

Officials slipped a small camera attached to a flexible cable into the pipe and used it to film the trapped men.

In a video released to the press, rescuers can be seen viewing the footage on a computer screen outside the tunnel.

An official asks the men to appear before the camera and smile and wave – the workers can be seen responding to the instructions.

He also tells them that they will be rescued soon and later asks them to identify themselves in front of the camera.

Rescuers appear to be using two-way radios to communicate with the men – the video shows one of them holding a walkie-talkie in his hands.

The men, many of whom are wearing safety helmets and jackets, can be seen standing in a semi-circle near the camera.

The official then tells the men that the pipe will soon be cleaned after which water will be sent to them.

Conclusion

The tunnel collapse in Uttarakhand serves as a sobering reminder of the inherent risks associated with large-scale infrastructure endeavors. As rescue operations persist and investigations unfold, the incident compels a nationwide contemplation on the criticality of prioritizing safety throughout the planning, construction, and maintenance phases of such pivotal assets.