To rescue the 41 workers trapped in the tunnel in Silkyara, Uttarkashi, the team of experts is brainstorming on every aspect to start horizontal drilling from the main entrance of the tunnel as well as vertical drilling from the top of the hill. The team of experts of Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL), which is handling the responsibility of vertical drilling, is also preparing an action plan regarding the safety standards to be adopted for taking out the workers after drilling.
the rocks inside are weak
Experts said that the drilling time and safety measures will depend on the strength of the rock inside the hill. SJVNL experts said that the rocks inside the Silkyara hills appear to be less strong. In such a situation, vertical drilling is expected to take less time, but more safety measures are required on such a hill.
Evacuation plan prepared through steel casing
Keeping in mind the possibility of weakening of the hills, the evacuation tunnel will be strengthened through steel casing so that the NDRF and other rescue team members can safely rescue the workers trapped in the tunnel. SJVNL held a meeting and discussed with the NDRF team to prepare the evacuation tunnel as a safe passage. In this, various security measures and preparations for possible eventualities were also discussed, if necessary.
A similar rescue took place in Himachal in 2015.
More time spent on drilling in strong rocks in Himachal Pradesh SJVNL Executive Director Rakesh Sehgal said that in vertical drilling, a lot depends on the condition of the rock within the hill. In the year 2015, during a landslide in the tunnel being built on the National Highway in Bilaspur, Himachal, SJVNL had taken out three workers from the tunnel by doing vertical drilling.
During this time, very strong rocks were present inside the hill. In such a situation, it took about two weeks for the 65 meter long drilling, but due to the strong rock, the evacuation tunnel was also made strong and the workers were easily taken out.
Must be ready at all times
At the same time, there is a possibility that the rocks in Silkyara hills of Uttarkashi will be less strong. This is expected to reduce the time required for drilling, but if the rocks turn out to be too weak, safety measures may have to be increased.
