News Highlights: NHIDCL MD aims for swift completion of Uttarkashi tunnel drilling work

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Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation live updates: Vertical drilling for 8-inch and 1.2-meter diameter pipe

8-inch pipeline and 1.2-meter diameter pipe are being laid through vertical drilling from two different locations.

The drilling of 8-inch pipeline has been done for about 70-80 meters and has been put on hold. Whereas drilling of a pipeline with a diameter of 1.2 meters has been done for about 20 metres.

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation live updates: NHIDCL MD says 19.2 meters drilled, 86 meters target by November 30

Mahmood Ahmad, MD, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) says, "...We have completed around 19.2 meters of drilling. We have to drill around 86 meters to be done within four days that is by November 30th. Hopefully, there will be no further hurdles and the work will be completed on time..."

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Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation live updtes: Auger machine removal in progress

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation live updates: Vertical drilling underway, 17 meters completed, says former advisor to PMO

Former advisor to PMO, Bhaskar Khulbe says, "Vertical drilling is going on. 17-meter (drilling has been done)..."

As a second option, vertical drilling work was started from the hill above the tunnel.

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Silkyara tunnel rescue operation live updates: NDMA member reveals delay in Plan 3 adoption

Member of the NDMA, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.), says, "Our plan 3 (Perpendicular, covering 170 metres) has still not been adopted...The machine for sideways drilling is expected to reach the Silkayra tunnel rescue site during the night..."

Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.) says, "...Vertical drilling started at around 12 noon today and 86 meters of vertical digging required to reach trapped workers...15 metres of drilling has already taken place..."

Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.) says, "...Yesterday the auger machine was stuck, the blades broke done so manual cutting had to be done and for that, the equipment had to come from outside...Through Airforce and IndiGo's charter flight...all three equipments have reached there...Earlier, we were getting a speed of 4-5 m/hr but now that might not be the case but it is a fail-safe technique..."

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation live updates: NDMA unveils six-pronged rescue strategy

Six plans are being deployed to rescue 41 workers trapped in Silkyara tunnel; best plan so far is horizontal drilling, says NDMA

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation live updates: NDMA Member says workers' well-being taken care of amid rescue operation

Member of the NDMA, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.) says, "...All of them (workers) have been getting their sustenance, food, medicine...Medical and psycho-social experts are there and doing their work...All precautions are being taken for the safety of all...Six plans are working...These plans are being adopted in a very synchronised way..."

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation live updates: Megna, laser and plasma cutter machines deployed, says NDMA

Megna, laser, and plasma cutter equipment arrive at the rescue location in Silkyara Tunnel to extract the damaged part of the auger machine, says NDMA.

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operation live updates: NHIDCL Chief says progress made in vertical drilling

Mahmood Ahmad, MD, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), said they have initiated work on 2-3 additional options, and that SJVNL has been instructed to conduct vertical drilling with a diameter of 1-1.2 meters.

He also said, "We identified spots where the drilling could be better...Drilling of almost 15 metres is complete. We identified a spot where we estimate that a total drilling of 86 metres has to be done, 15 metres is done; we think that this will complete in the next 2 days."

Mahmood Ahmad said, "Work on concrete bedding has begun. We expect that two days from now, we have fixed 28th November as the date when drilling begins. This is a long process. We have a target of 15 days for the horizontal drilling to be successfully done...We also want to make a drift tunnel, design has been made and approved...We are working on these various sides...Work from Barkot's side is facing difficulties..."

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Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse LIVE: Manual drilling to commence after auger machine cut in

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami provided updates on the ongoing Uttarkashi tunnel rescue, stating, "The plasma machine that has been brought from Hyderabad has started working since this morning. The cutting is going on rapidly. 14 metres more remain (to be cut)." He further added, "The auger machine has to be cut and brought out. It seems that it will be completed soon, within a few more hours. After that, manual drilling will begin," as reported by ANI.

Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse LIVE: Vertical drilling locations identified

In the ongoing Uttarkashi tunnel rescue, two locations above the Silkyara side of the collapsed tunnel have been identified for vertical drilling, marking a crucial development in the rescue efforts.

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Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE: International tunnelling expert Arnold Dix raises questions on rock stability

International Tunneling Expert, Arnold Dix says, "...It may have been an unusual situation occurring here where the class of rock changes...It has to be investigated. The area that collapsed, hadn't collapsed before, hadn't even given any clue that it was going to collapse before. So, it is a part of the challenge for us - what is it about the ground here, this mountain that caught us on the backfoot..."

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Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse LIVE: CPI MP urges PM Modi to exercise caution in Himalayan ecosystem development

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Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue LIVE: Rescue plan shifts to alternatives after Auger Machine breakdown

On the thirteenth day of the Uttarkashi tunnel rescue, officials explore alternative methods as auger machine blades break during drilling. Options include manual drilling for the remaining 10-12 meters of the initial 60 meters or rubble drilling from above, reaching down 86 meters.

Uttarkashi Tunnel Rescue Update: Vertical drilling expected to commence today, operation duration warned to be prolonged

Retired National Disaster Management Authority Member, Lt General Syed Ata Hasnain, stated on Saturday that the ongoing rescue operation in the Uttarkashi tunnel might endure a lengthy process. He indicated that vertical drilling is anticipated to initiate within the "next 24 to 36" hours, being the quicker of the two alternative approaches under consideration.