“The rescue teams are facing challenges due to the complex and fragile geology of the Himalayas. The mountain is loose and fractured at the site. The soil strata in the region is not uniform either. It is soft at some places and hard at some. We are doing everything to pull out the workers safely out of the tunnel but it might take 2-3 days more. Whatever is required to save the trapped workers will be done,” the Union minister said.
He added that the Geological Survey of India (GSI) is going to use satellite-based technology to scan the debris. “We’re going to use robotics technology as well in this operation,” said Gadkari. On the question of alleged negligence by the company executing the project, the Union minister said that “a thorough enquiry will be conducted once the rescue operation is over.” On why there was no escape tunnel even though it is part of safety protocol — a point first raised by TOI — the Union minister said, “All these issues will be looked into by the probe panel. Our priority at present is to save lives.”
He reiterated that rescue teams are working on five options simultaneously.
The options include exploring possibility of vertical drilling on top of the tunnel, excavating two escape channels/tunnels on both sides of the Silkyara tunnel, digging a tunnel from Barkot side, reaching out to the trapped workers via the cavity formed during the roof collapse, and continuing with the previously used method of pushing pipes via an auger boring machine.
Gadkari further said that the PMO is closely monitoring the entire operation and all available resources are being provided to the teams involved in the rescue effort.
Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: Drilling operations come to a halt, trapped workers face continued distress
The Union minister added that tunnels at a cumulative cost of around Rs 2.75 lakh crore are being built by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.