Uttarakhand tunnel collapse: PM Modi speaks to CM Dhami, examines the situation; vertical drilling to begin

The 41 workers who have been stuck in the collapsed Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi since last week were the subject of a phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday. PM Modi stated in a statement released by the Uttarakhand Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) that the workers will be safely evacuated with cooperation between the central and Uttarakhand governments, and that the central government is providing the required rescue tools and resources. The PM went on to say that it’s important to keep the stranded workers’ morale high.

Early this morning, heavy machines were seen arriving at the Silkyara tunnel on the Brahmakhal-Yamunotri national highway collapsed that had collapsed in the early hours of November 12.
The Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) is all set to initiate work on a vertical pipeline to provide essential items, facilitated by the completed approach road by Border Roads Organisation in just one day.
Sutlej Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL) is also all geared up for vertical drilling for which equipment was mobilized from Gujarat and Odisha through Railways as the 75-ton equipment could not be airlifted.
Secretary, Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Anurag Jain had on Sunday said that a five-point action plan to rescue the trapped workers.
National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHDCL), Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVNL), Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited (THDC) and Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) have been assigned one option each.The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and the construction wing of the Indian Army have also been assisting in the rescue operation.