Nitin Gadkari to visit Uttarkashi tunnel today to review rescue operations

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will visit the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi on Sunday at 11 am to review the rescue operations being carried out in the tunnel, sources told India Today.

He will be accompanied by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. It has been seven days since 41 workers got stuck inside the under-construction Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi after a portion of it collapsed on November 12.

Rescue operations for the workers trapped in the tunnel were temporarily suspended on Friday when a loud cracking sound was heard as the fifth pipe was being positioned at around 2:45 pm.

Despite this interruption, efforts resumed on Saturday morning, although drilling work remains on hold.

A special team is now looking at the possibility of vertical drilling from the upper part of the tunnel if the horizontal drilling is not successful. Using vertical drilling, the authorities will try reaching the workers from the top of the mountain.

An official of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) told PTI news agency that they have identified a point at the top of the tunnel from where vertical drilling will start soon. He added that this track is about 1,000 to 1,100 metres long and, as per their calculations, it should be ready by Sunday afternoon.

The Uttarakhand administration has made arrangements for accommodation and food for all the family members of the trapped workers.