Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation in final stage: Uttarakhand CM Dhami

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday said that the rescue operation to extricate 41 workers trapped in a portion of the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi which collapsed over a week ago is in its final stage adding that both the central and state government agencies are working together reported news agency ANICM Dhami said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking all the updates regarding the rescue operation being carried out at the Silkyara tunnel reported ANIThe rescue operation is in its last stage PM Modi is taking all the updates about the difficulties that workers might face and discussing the solutions Both the central and state government agencies are working together for the rescue operation We hope that soon this operation will be completed and all the workers will come out CM Dhami said reported ANIEarlier in the day Additional Secretary Technical Road and Transport Mahmood Ahmed said that the auger drilling machine which developed some cracks on Thursday has been reassembled and they hope to push the pipe further this time with no obstacles reported ANIThe auger drilling machine has been reassembled A new pipe will be put in after the welding which will take two hours After two hours we will push the pipe inside the tunnel We hope that we push the pipe further this time and will face no obstacles Additional Secretary Ahmed said reported ANIMeanwhile the Uttarakhand government said that the auger machine had to be disassembled due to steel pipes coming in front of it and the pipe being inserted inside getting bent Due to this the auger machine was damaged but it has been repaired reported ANIThe rescue work continues as a portion of the underconstruction tunnel from Silkyara to Barkot collapsed on November 12 The debris falling in the 60metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel trapped 41 labourers inside reported ANIWhen asked about the total length of the pipe that has been inserted to rescue the workers Additional Secretary Ahmed said that two more pipes of 6 metres each have to be inserted to get a breakthrough reported ANITwo more pipes of 6 metres each have to be inserted The first 6 metres which reach 5152 metres with the next 6 meterlong pipe we hope to breakthrough he said reported ANIThis is our own estimation and understanding These estimations are based on certain realities but they are all assumptions and not to be taken exactly but we hope to be there someway he added reported ANIEarlier Bhaskar Khulbe a former advisor to the Prime Ministers Office PMO said a 2metre part of the inserted pipe had to be cut off as it got compressed due to friction while drilling This happened after the auger heavyduty driller encountered an obstruction and exerted more pressure on Thursday he informed reported ANISpeaking to ANI on Friday morning Khulbe said the platform on which the Augur drilling machine was mounted developed some cracks on Thursday However the cracks have been repaired since informed reported ANIThe platform developed some cracks while the rescue operation was underway on Thursday and the process of horizontal drilling through the debris had to be halted as a result reported ANILast night we had to revamp the platform on which the machine is mounted However Parsons Company operated a ground penetration radar which told us that there was no metallic obstruction for the next 5 metres inside the tunnel This means that our drilling once it resumes should be smooth When we were removing the debris we came upon two mangled pipes Khulbe said adding that the trapped workers may be extricated by Friday reported ANIThe workers are trapped in a 2 kmbuilt portion which is complete including concrete work that provides them safetyWith inputs from ANI