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How plasma machine from Hyderabad is cutting auger stuck in Uttarkashi tunnel
The situation inside the Silkyara tunnel remains critical as the 41 stranded labourers await their rescue. The use of a plasma cutter, flown in from Hyderabad, has been crucial in cutting and removing parts of the auger machine that got stuck in the rubble. This step is necessary to disengage the machine fully and allow for the manual pushing of pipes through the debris to create an escape passage.
In addition to the plasma cutter, a drill machine has been sent to the top of the hill above the tunnel for vertical drilling purposes. International tunnelling expert Arnold Dix has expressed his approval of the progress made thus far, noting that the plasma cutter has significantly increased the speed of cutting through the auger.
Efforts are underway to completely remove the auger from the blocked passage. Tests are also being conducted to determine the consolidation and composition of the rocks before the start of vertical drilling from the top of the tunnel on the Silkyara side. These measures are being taken to ensure the safety and effectiveness of the rescue operation.
Previously, the blades of the auger machine became trapped in the debris, prompting officials to consider alternative options. Manual drilling through the remaining stretch of rubble or drilling down from above were the two avenues being explored. However, these alternatives could prolong the rescue operation by several days or even weeks.
The rescue mission, involving multiple agencies, commenced on November 12 after a landslide caused a portion of the under-construction tunnel on Uttarakhand’s Char Dham route to collapse. This incident trapped the workers inside, cutting off their exit. The workers are confined to a two-kilometre section of the tunnel and are receiving essential supplies such as food, medicine, and other necessities through a narrow pipe.
Rescue teams are working tirelessly to ensure the safe extraction of the stranded labourers, and their efforts, along with the implementation of innovative equipment, bring hope for a successful outcome in the near future.
