Silkyara Tunnel Particles Puzzles Worldwide Consultants As Vertical Drilling Begins

With over two weeks handed for the reason that collapse of the Silkyara tunnel on November 12 trapping 41 staff inside, the rescuers are dealing with a mounting problem to drill by means of the particles with even the American Auger Machine failing on the final. A number of organisations together with the Indian Military, SDRF, NDRF and District Administration are working day and night time however solely to stare at uncertainty. Whereas the work is underway to dismantle and reduce out the components of the Auguer machine that bought broken throughout drilling, SJVN (Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam) has begun vertical drilling work on the highest of the tunnel because the second choice. 

In the meantime, worldwide tunnelling knowledgeable Arnold Dix mentioned that the scenario on the Silkyara tunnel could also be uncommon. “It might have been an uncommon scenario occurring right here the place the category of rock modifications…It must be investigated. The realm that collapsed, hadn’t collapsed earlier than, hadn’t even given any clue that it was going to break down earlier than. So, it is part of the problem for us – the kind of floor right here, this mountain that caught us on the again foot,” he mentioned.

Speaking concerning the lack of escape tunnel, Dix mentioned that escape tunnels are largely constructed in direction of the top. “It should not have an escape tunnel at this stage as a result of usually you do not count on them to break down. So, usually all over the world, we do not construct our tunnels anticipating them to break down like this. What we do is we put escape tunnels on the finish. So, if there may be an incident, customers can escape,” he mentioned.

Micro-tunneling knowledgeable Chris Cooper additionally refused to share a timeline for finishing the rescue mission. 

SDRF Commandant Manikant Mishra mentioned that the work is underway to take out components of the Auger machine. “After auger components are faraway from the pipe, handbook work might be executed and pipes might be pushed manually by means of the remaining particles. We’re hopeful of reducing out the auger components by this night.” He additionally mentioned that staff might be taken for therapy as soon as they’re pulled out.

The BSNL has stalled a landline telephone on the web site to assist the trapped staff join with their households.