The 4.5-kilometre Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarkashi, which was under construction on a national highway, collapsed in the early hours of 12 November.
Former advisor to PMO, Bhaskar Khulbe, surveyed rescue operations Wednesday & said workers trapped inside partially collapsed Silkyara Tunnel were in 'high spirits', rescuers also 'positive'.
As many as 13 govt agencies are working on war footing to rescue the 41 workers trapped inside the under-construction Silkyara tunnel, a section of which collapsed on 12 November.
ThePrint saw bottles packed with khichdi — meant to be sent to the workers Monday — being emptied and cleaned near collapse site. The snag was later officially confirmed.
Abhishek Ruhela talks about the challenges of working in the Himalayan region and the rescue operations to free the 41 trapped men. He adds it's too early to pin down lapses, if any.
The first audio-visual contact was established Tuesday after a camera was pushed in through a 6-inch pipe; the workers received hot khichdi in bottles through this ‘lifeline’ as well.
Visuals were captured using an endoscopic camera sent via an alternative 6-inch food pipeline. Workers in yellow & white helmets are seen receiving food items, talking to each other.
Three augers from Odisha & Gujarat yet to reach tunnel site. Gadkari says if machines work, rescue could be facilitated within 2.5 days but others say it could take longer.
Prof Arnold Dix, president of International Tunneling & Underground Space Association, adds that the work going on to rescue workers trapped since 12 November is 'very systematic'.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari & Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami visit site Sunday to assess situation. Gadkari expresses hope of rescuing workers within two to two-and-a-half days.
Finance ministry says the proposed revamp will focus on structural reforms, rate rationalisation & ease of living, & will be deliberated upon in the coming weeks.
The project is meant to be a ‘protective shield that will keep expanding’, the PM said. It is on the lines of the ‘Golden Dome’ announced by Trump, it is learnt.
Now that both IAF and PAF have made formal claims of having shot down the other’s aircraft in the 87-hour war in May, we can ask a larger question: do such numbers really matter?
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