Dehradun/Uttarakashi: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday that every possible effort is being made to save the workers trapped in the Silkyara Tunnel and getting them out soon is the biggest priority of the government. The Union Minister, who reached the spot along with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, said that the rescue operation is challenging in view of the difficult Himalayan conditions. He said the soil level here is not uniform and is both soft and hard, making it difficult to carry out mechanical operations. However, Gadkari clearly said that if the auger machine continues to work properly, it will reach the workers in the next 2 to 3 days. This is going to provide relief to the families of 41 workers trapped in crisis.
After reviewing the rescue operations at the spot, Gadkari told reporters that considering the current circumstances, the quickest way to reach the workers trapped in the tunnel is by drilling horizontally into the debris with an American Agar machine. Gadkari said, ‘When the American auger was drilling in soft soil, it was working properly, but when it came across a hard obstacle, problems started arising. Due to this, the machine had to be pressurized too much which caused vibrations and it was stopped due to safety reasons.
The Union Minister said that it is everyone’s collective responsibility at this time to maintain the morale of the workers and their families trapped in the tunnel. He said, ‘We are currently working on six options simultaneously. The Prime Minister’s Office is also closely monitoring the rescue operation. Our biggest priority is to rescue all the stranded workers as soon as possible. Whatever is necessary will be done.
Gadkari said that whatever machine or technical assistance is required, it will be made available. He said that oxygen, electricity, food, water and medicines are continuously being provided to the stranded workers. He said that apart from the pipe through which food is being supplied till now, an alternative pipe of larger diameter has also been installed so that roti, vegetables and rice can also be provided to them.
The Union Minister said that experts from various fields have been gathered and their advice has been sought as to what methods should be adopted to bring out the trapped workers safely. He said that preparations are underway to start ‘vertical drilling’ from the top of the tunnel. He said that every possible method is being adopted to get them out soon. Gadkari said that tunnels are being built by the Center in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir at a cost of Rs 2.75 lakh crore.