Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue Highlights: Drilling at Uttarkashi tunnel to evacuate trapped workers halted again, Officials say

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"The villagers are worried about the condition of the men from the village who are stuck inside the tunnel in Uttarakhand, says a local of Khairabera in Jharkhand.

On Silkyara tunnel rescue operation, International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix says, "We are only just metres away from finding passage to have the men back. But the men are safe. The auger machine has broken down, it is being repaired and it should be back up tomorrow. The drilling machine has broken down three times..."

"We were hoping to see the workers this time yesterday, then we were hoping to see them this morning and then this afternoon. But, it looks like the mountain had different ideas. We have had to pause the auger (machine) operation at the moment and some repairs are being done to the machine. We are probably going to enter the next phase where we consider other options," says Arnold Dix, President of International Tunnelling Underground Space.

On TMC MP Mahua Moitra, West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Mazumdar says, "Mamata Banerjee has admitted that this controversy (cash for query) will help her MP (Mahua Moitra) gain popularity."

Drilling work halted after technical snag in the Auger drilling machine. Till now, rescuers have drilled up to 46.8 meters in the Silkyara tunnel

Drilling through the rubble of the collapsed Silkyara tunnel was put on hold again Thursday after the platform on which the equipment is mounted developed some cracks, in yet another setback to the effort to rescue the 41 workers trapped inside. The rescue workers will stabilise the platform on which the 25-tonne auger machine is mounted before drilling is resumed, officials said. The rescue workers will stabilise the platform on which the 25-tonne auger machine is mounted before drilling is resumed, officials said.

Sections of steel pipes were being inserted through the rubble of the collapsed portion for the workers, trapped for 11 days, to be brought out.

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The National Investigation Agency today conducted raids across Bihar as part of its efforts to expose and foil the naxal conspiracy to revive and strengthen the proscribed organisation in the Magadh zone. The raids were conducted at the premises of accused and suspected persons at 31 locations in Aurangabad, Rohtash, Kaimur, Gaya and Saran (Chhapra). It led the NIA to unearth the involvement of naxal commanders in the conspiracy to revive the outfit and its cadres in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh: NIA

International expert Arnold Dix says auger machine drilling through rubble at Uttarkashi tunnel is experiencing 'some difficulties' again

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"The rescue operation is in full swing. We have got multiple rescue operations. All of the experts of India are here. I am still very relaxed. We are not rushing because if we rush, we might cause a problem that we can't imagine. It's a case of India leading by example, and we are gonna see 41 healthy men before Christmas and no one hurt," says international tunneling expert Arnold Dix on Uttarkashi tunnel rescue.

"Let them send (the notice), we will give our response. There is no problem in this. No big comments were made but since it's election time, they are creating hype," says Congress president Kharge on EC's show-cause notice to party MP Rahul Gandhi for remarks on PM Modi.

At the ‘Saint Mirabai Janmotsav’ programme, PM Modi says, "... Family of Mira Bai and the people of Rajasthan sacrificed everything they had... For the protection of our religious sites, the people of Rajasthan stood in between like a wall so that the soul of India could be protected... This event reminds us of that sacrifice and bravery..."

"I am fortunate that I got the opportunity to have a 'darshan' of 'Braj' because only those come here who are called by 'Shri Krishna and Shriji'," says PM Modi addressing an event commemorating the birth anniversary of Sant Meera Bai in Mathura.

International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix says, "The vertical drilling is all prepared, as in all the sites prepared, the access roads prepared, everything's prepared, and decisions being taken shortly about what to do with the vertical drilling. But all of the different access routes, they affect each other. So while we're doing Augering, we have to be very careful and that includes being careful about vertical drilling. So we're ready for vertical drilling. It's just a question of when the decision is made whether to do it or not to do it..."

At the ‘Saint Mirabai Janmotsav’ programme, PM Modi says, "Braj has a unique relation with Gujarat. The Kanha of Mathura became Dwarkadheesh after going to Gujarat... Saint Mira Bai who came to Mathura from Rajasthan, spent her last moments in Dwarka... Saint Mira's worship is incomplete without Vrindavan..."

ED has conducted searches under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002 at 13 locations in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on November 22 at the residences of 4 Executive Engineers, 2 Divisional Accountants and other employees of UHBVN, Yamunanagar (Haryana) and others. During the search operations unaccounted cash of Rs 27.50 lakh, various incriminating documents regarding immovable properties, Fixed Deposit, bank lockers and digital devices were recovered and seized: ED

A total of 5 Army personnel have lost their lives in the encounter. Capt MV Pranjal, Capt Shubham Gupta, Hav Abdul Majid, L/Nk Sanjay Bisht and Paratrooper Sachin Laur lost their lives. Two terrorists have also been killed in the encounter.

"Earlier, we were about at 22 metres as far as horizontal access was concerned from the end where the collapse had taken place. Today, we are at approximately 45 metres with all the pipes having been laid and welded. The distance beyond is approx. 23 metres or so," says Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain, NDMA member.

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Silkyara tunnel rescue operation | Member of the National Disaster Management Authority, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain says, "If no hindrance comes in the way and the auger machine continues to function at its speed of 4-5 meters per hour, then I can say that maybe tomorrow during the day, you can receive the good news..."

Locals bring the 'doli' of the local deity to the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi, where an operation is underway to rescue 41 trapped workers.

- A significant breakthrough was achieved on 20.11.2023 as NHIDCL completed the drilling of an additional lifeline—a 6-inch diameter pipeline—for the supply of essential items.
- Freshly cooked food and fresh fruits are being inserted inside the tunnel at regular intervals using 2nd life line service (150 mm dia pipe). 2nd service
lifeline (food pipe, 150 mm) has been extended from the initial position to a distance of 12 m to ensure higher stability and safety.
- NHIDCL has resumed horizontal boring from the Silkyara end to rescue workers using an Augur boring machine.
- SJVNL's machine for the vertical rescue tunnel construction has arrived at the site, and has been installed and drilling expected to start by evening on 22.11.2023.
- Air drilling Rig machine from Indore has reached site. Submission of report by ONGC to be made after completion of field survey.
- Work is underway to create a drift inside the tunnel, with a safe channel established from 180 meters to 150 meters. The Army is mobilizing box culverts for this purpose. Fabrication of frames has started.

In view of the Silkyara tunnel rescue operation, a temporary Chief Minister Camp office has been set up in Matali, Uttarkashi. Today morning, CM Dhami took stock of the tunnel rescue operation and also consulted with the experts present here.

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- Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minister General VK Singh (Retd) today took a meeting to review the relief and rescue operations after taking stock of the tunnel rescue operation in Silkyara, Uttarkashi.

- During this, the CM directed the officers and said that all the agencies should be engaged in relief and rescue work with mutual coordination. It should be the effort of all of us to get the trapped workers out safely as soon as possible, says CMO.

- RBI Deputy Governor M Rajeshwar Rao said, "Prevention is better than cure is our mantra for financial world as well. Certain financial elements require early identification."

- Speaking at FIBAC 2023, he also said, "Banks needs to transfer their approach from sectoral to ecosystem."

- The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) wing of the Mumbai Police has summoned Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray's alleged closed aide Suraj Chavan and Amol Kirtikar (UBT leader) in the Khichdi scam case.

- NDMA says 41 ambulances are stationed at collapsed tunnel site at Silkyara in Uttarakhand

- Member of the National Disaster Management Authority, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain said, "This is challenging work. To keep expecting that rescue will be done in the next two hours, puts pressure on the workforce. This is wrong.

- "In this situation, both the trapped workers and the rescue team are at risk. We have to cater for the safety of both," he added.

- Union minister Gen. VK Singh (Retd) along with a few senior officials enter Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel where the operation to rescue trapped workers has intensified

- An agreement for a four-day cease-fire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages held by militants and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel appeared to have hit a last-minute snag.

- As per AP, a senior Israeli official said it would not take effect until Friday, a day later than originally announced.

- The diplomatic breakthrough promised some relief for the 2.3 million Palestinians in Gaza who have endured weeks of Israeli bombardment, as well as families in Israel fearful for the fate of their loved ones taken captive during Hamas' October 7 attack that triggered the war.

- India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued 'Orange' alert in the Pathanamthitta, Kozhikode and Idukki districts of Kerala for today.

- IMD also issued 'Yellow' alert in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram and Wayanad districts today.

- DGFT is in discussion with various e-commerce platforms like Flipkart/Walmart, E-bay, Rivexa, Shopclues, Shiprocket, DHL Express etc to have similar collaboration in other districts of the country under the Districts as Export Hubs initiative.

- This will supplement DGFT’s efforts to hand hold, promote new and first time exporters and other MSME producers to export from India, thereby making substantial strides towards the goal of $1 trillion goods exports by year 2030

- The core objective of this collaboration is to leverage e-commerce platforms to support local exporters, manufacturers, and MSMEs in reaching potential international buyers.

- The partnership aligns with the Foreign Trade Policy 2023, which identifies e-commerce as a focus area for amplifying India's exports

- In a significant move to enable micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and boost e-commerce exports from the country, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India is collaborating with the various e-commerce players to leverage the Districts as Export Hubs initiative and promote e-commerce exports from the country.

- In first such collaboration with different e-commerce platforms, DGFT has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Amazon India.

- India would have won the cricket World Cup if the final match was played in Kolkata or Mumbai, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed on Thursday.

- Congress MP Manish Tewari said, "As far as deep fakes are concerned, you can't have a standalone law on one aspect of artificial intelligence."

-"Deep fakes are not new. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, there was a deep fake video impersonating my voice, which was circulated one day prior to polling.." he added.

- "The problem of deep fakes has persisted for a while. So, therefore, there is a need for a very serious and sustained discussion," he said.

- Bhaskar Khulbe, former advisor to PMO said, "We need to go 18 metres more for which work is going on. They (workers stuck inside the tunnel) are being provided food as per their requirement."

- Dr Narinder Kumar, Hospital Administration, AIIMS Rishikesh, said, "If needed, there is a plan to bring the rescued people to AIIMS Rishikesh."

- "The government has made arrangements at the district hospital in Uttarkashi. They will be taken there first. We have also made arrangements here. Trauma, ICU beds have been reserved for them," he added.

- The director of the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza says it has resumed its detailed count of casualties from the Israel-Hamas war, and has documented more than 13,000 deaths. Medhat Abbas confirmed the resumption to The Associated Press on Thursday. Medhat Abbas confirmed the resumption to The Associated Press on Thursday.

- Security official said one more terrorist has been neutralised in the ongoing counter-terrorist operation in Rajauri.

- Weapons and ammunition have also been recovered from the encounter location.

- BharatPe co-founder Ashneer Grover arrived at the EOW office in Delhi for questioning.

- Uttarakhand Secretary Neeraj Khairwal said, "The rescue operation is underway in full swing, but could not be completed yesterday because of a small hurdle."

- "After drilling 45 metres, we faced a hurdle in the form of a girdle, which damaged a spare part of the auger machine," he added.

- "Uttarakhand CM and Union Minister General VK Singh (Retd) had a conversation with the workers trapped inside. Their morale is high. The workers told us that they were fine. All the necessary medicines have been sent," said Neeraj Khairwal, Nodal officer for the rescue operation.

- "Our psychiatrists and mental health doctors have also had a conversation with the 41 trapped workers. They do not have any problem inside," he further added.

- Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami had a conversation with Gabbar Singh Negi and Saba Ahmed, among the workers trapped in the tunnel under construction in Silkyara, Uttarkashi.

- He inquired about their well-being and also informed them about the rescue operation going on at a fast pace to get them out safely.

- Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami reached Silkyara Tunnel (Uttarakashi) and offered prayers at a temple that has been built at the main entrance of the tunnel.

- The rescue operations to bring out the trapped workers are currently underway.

- PRO Defence said, "One terrorist named Quari has been killed in an ongoing operation. The individual is a Pak National. He has been trained on the Pak & Afghan Front."

- "He is a highly-ranked terrorist leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba. He has been active in Rajouri-Poonch along with his group for the past year. He is also believed to be the mastermind of the Dangri & Kandi attacks."

- "He was sent to revive terrorism in the region. He is an expert in IEDs, operating & hiding from Caves and a trained sniper."

- Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wished for the safety of the 41 labourers trapped in Uttarakhand's Silkyara tunnel.

- She also urged the government to ensure adequate compensation and help for them.

- Taking to X, Priyanka Gandhi said the news is that the ongoing operation to save the workers is moving towards success and there is hope that everyone will come out safely soon.

- First woman judge of Supreme Court Justice Fathima Beevi passes away.

- One CRPF jawan has been injured in an IED blast in Chaibasa, Jharkhand. He has been evacuated and sent to Ranchi for medical treatment, as per news agency ANI.

- "e-Ticket booking is temporarily affected due to technical reasons. Technical team is working on it & online booking will be made available soon," says IRCTC

- Ashwini Vaishnaw said, ""We have all agreed that within the next about 10 days, we will come up with clear actionable items...All the companies, all the platforms, and the entire industry understood that this is not free speech. They understood that this is something which is really harmful for the society.

- "They understood the need for much heavier regulation on this. So we agree that we will start drafting the regulation today. We'll start drafting the regulations today itself. And within a very short time frame, we will have a new set of regulations for deep fake," he further added.

- Ashwini Vaishnaw said, "Deep fake has emerged as a new threat in the society. We need to take immediate steps. Today a meeting was held with social media platforms. We've to focus on four aspects-detection, prevention, reporting mechanism of deep fake and awareness needs to be increased"

- "New regulations will be brought and in the coming weeks, efforts will be made to complete the drafting of regulations...Social media companies, NASSCOM, and professors working on Artificial intelligence (AI) were also present in today's meeting," he further said.

- "Within the next 14-15 hours, we anticipate surpassing the 60-meter mark. Following that, an additional 12-14 hours will be required to reach the location where the workers are trapped," former advisor to PMO, Bhaskar Khulbe, stated.
- "Subsequently, it may take an additional 2-3 hours to assemble the workers and safely extract them with the assistance of NDRF personnel," he noted.

- "The RBI is conscious of where the thin line actually lies. They are red-lighting it now so that NBFCs or small finance companies don’t go too far in their enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is good, but sometimes it becomes a bit too far for people to digest, the finance minister further noted.
- "So as a measure of caution, RBI has alerted banks, small finance banks, NBFCs to be careful that they don’t go too far too soon and face any downside risks later," she also said.

- Addressing the Digital Acceleration & Transformation Expo, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, "We have already signed MoUs with 7-8 countries to share our experience, achievements, and technology in the DPI space. And we have many more of them coming".

- "During the night, we faced a minor issue as a girder, a steel structure, was present on the face of the 45-meter tunnel and needed to be removed. This task took approximately six hours," stated Bhaskar Khulbe, OSD of the Uttarakhand government.
- "However, I am pleased to inform you that the entire obstruction caused by the steel, hindering the smooth movement of the pipe, has been successfully eliminated," he further added.

- A package released from a drone was retrieved by the J&K Police in Akhnoor.
- The recovered contents included 9 grenades, a pistol, 38 rounds, and an improvised explosive device (IED), as stated by the J&K Police.

- "Ambulances are fully prepared, and we are set to transport trapped workers swiftly to the hospital via a designated route. Should the trapped individuals be in critical condition, we can even airlift them based on medical recommendations," noted the Garhwal Range IG KS Nagnyal at the rescue site.
- "If advanced medical care is required, they will be transported to AIIMS in Rishikesh. The entire state is vigilant and ready for action," he further said.

- Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai noted that scientists anticipate further improvement in wind speed due to its current low levels.
- The government has decided to extend GRAP 3 in Delhi until air quality shows signs of enhancement.
- With the exception of construction projects deemed nationally significant, all other construction activities are restricted, with linear projects being the exception.

- Advocates bring up the plea before the Chief Justice of India, urging for its consideration in an open court session scheduled for November 28.
- Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi asserts unanimity among the judges on the issue of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community, emphasizing the substantial rights of a significant population.
- The Chief Justice noted that a decision will be considered after due circulation.

- "The NDRF is fully prepared for any potential challenges we may encounter. We have specialized equipment in place to expedite the extraction of trapped workers", DG NDRF, Atul Karwal noted.
- "Our teams are on standby, and we are optimistic about achieving a swift rescue for the workers," he further said.

- "A 45-meter pipeline has been installed using an auger machine, marking the concluding phases of the rescue operation. Although some obstacles persist, efforts are underway to expedite the workers," Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said today.
- "Preparations post-rescue have been completed, with ambulances and hospitals standing by for necessary check-ups and treatments. Prime Minister Modi remains actively informed about the ongoing rescue, receiving regular updates, including today. Our dedicated experts continue to work tirelessly day and night to ensure the successful retrieval of the workers", he further added.

- Renowned tunneling specialist Arnold Dix has arrived at the Silkyara tunnel site, where efforts are actively in progress to rescue the workers who are currently trapped.
- "Currently, it feels as though we are standing at the entrance, knocking on the door. We're aware that the workers are on the other side. I will investigate to understand the situation," Dix said.

- Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police, Arpan Yaduvanshi, states, "Our post-rescue strategy is prepared. We intend to guide the workers via a designated route with police protection, ensuring they receive optimal medical care".
- "It is anticipated that they will be transported to Chinyalisaur and, if required, to Rishikesh. Notably, there are scheduled VIP movements, with the presence of Union Minister General VK Singh (Retd) and the Secretary, North."

- Bhaskar Khulbe, former advisor to the Prime Minister's Office, expressed satisfaction, stating, "I am pleased to report that the impediment caused by the steel, hindering the smooth movement of the pipe, has been successfully eliminated".
- "Our goal is to progress six meters beyond the already achieved 45-meter mark. The drilling process was temporarily halted last night when an iron metal obstruction occurred. We are optimistic that no further obstacles will impede our progress moving forward," he further noted.

- Welder Radhe Raman Dubey stated that a team of welding experts from Delhi has reached the site of the incident.
- He mentioned, "Our purpose is to perform welding on the MS pipe inside the tunnel. Five welders are present for this task, and we will utilize welding machines for the job."

Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse Live Updates: Uttarkashi DM Ruhela updates on rescue operations

- Uttarkashi District Magistrate Abhishek Ruhela stated, "We have made significant progress in covering the majority of the distance, and there is only a small amount of work remaining".
- "Our teams are persistently addressing technical challenges, seeking guidance from experts and skilled individuals, some of whom are on-site. While it's uncertain when the rescue operation will conclude, ongoing efforts are under constant supervision by both the state and central governments. We are receiving comprehensive support from the Government of India," he further added.

- Chief Scientist and tunnel specialist RD Dwivedi, from CIMFR Roorkee, has arrived at the Silkyara tunnel site, where efforts are in progress to rescue the workers trapped inside.
- Providing insights, Dwivedi mentions, "Three individuals from CIMFR Roorkee, including ourselves as tunneling experts, are present here. We will assess the ongoing rescue operation and gather updates."

- The final stages of preparations for the rescue of workers trapped inside the Silkyara tunnel are underway, with Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami personally present in Uttarkashi, according to the Uttarakhand Chief Minister's Office.

- On Wednesday evening, the auger machine faced a slight hindrance as iron rods impeded the drilling of 800 mm diameter steel pipes through the debris.
- A specially arranged 41-bed ward awaits evacuees from the Silkyara tunnel at the Chinyalisaur Community Health Centre, with 41 ambulances on standby outside the tunnel ready to transport them swiftly upon emergence.

- Early today, the final phase of rescue operations at the Silkyara tunnel commenced as the last pipe needed to create an escape passage for the trapped workers was inserted through the debris.
- Officials have ensured that all necessary arrangements are in place to promptly provide medical care to the evacuated workers.