Loud cracking sound pauses rescue work at Uttarkashi tunnel

After six days, the tunnel rescue operations in Uttarakhand have encountered yet another obstacle. According to officials, the drilling operations were halted after 2:45 pm on Friday, an official informed.

Since Sunday, 40 labourers have been trapped within the 4.5-kilometer Silkyara tunnel after a landslide caused a portion of the building site near Uttarkashi to collapse.

An abrupt "cracking sound" that sent everyone into a frenzy. This happened after a second drilling equipment sustained damage, posing a technical challenge to the rescue effort.

Meanwhile, on Friday while speaking to media reporters Anshu Manish Khulko, Director of the tunnel-making company NHIDCL, said that at present the drilling work in the tunnel has stopped. When asked whether drilling work had stopped due to a machine breakdown, he said that there is no fault in the machine.

#WATCH | Uttarakhand: Uttarkashi tunnel rescue | Morning visuals from the spot; relief and rescue work halted at Silkyara Tunnel

Speaking to ANI Anshu Manish Khulko, Director of the tunnel-making company NHIDCL, said that at present the drilling work in the tunnel has stopped.… pic.twitter.com/ZhNAsdAtRX

— ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2023

However, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) said in a statement that “During the execution of the work at around 2:45 pm, a large-scale cracking sound was heard by officials and the team working inside the tunnel and created a panic situation in the tunnel as well as to the team working.”

He further added that there's a "strong possibility that a further collapse may take place and accordingly pipe pushing activity has been stopped".