New Delhi: The rescue operation for 41 employees caught in a tunnel in Uttarakhand for 15 days has taken a brand new flip, as specialists have resorted to the rat-hole mining approach to clear the rubble and create an escape route for them. Rat-hole mining is a technique of extracting small quantities of coal by drilling holes within the floor, normally practised in Meghalaya.
The specialists, who’ve come from Delhi, Jhansi and different locations, have been employed by Trenchless Engineering Companies Non-public Restricted and Navayuga Engineers Non-public restricted to use the rat-hole mining approach horizontally within the collapsed a part of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi. They must drill at the least 10 to 12 metres by hand, utilizing hand-held drilling machines and fuel cutters, an official stated.
Neeraj Khairwal, Further Secretary, Uttarakhand authorities and the state nodal officer for the rescue operation, stated the expert staff will take away the muck by hand and push the tunnel pipe (800-mm) regularly by the rubble.
One of many employees, Mohan Rai, stated they are going to put on oxygen masks and glasses for security and work in groups of three. He stated they’ll take away five-six metres of rubble in 24 hours.
One other knowledgeable, Rakesh Rajput, stated they’ll take away 10 metres of muck in 20 hours utilizing this technique.
The precise reason behind the tunnel collapse continues to be unknown, however the rescue staff is hopeful that the rat-hole mining approach will assist them attain the trapped employees quickly.
