After greater than 15 days since 41 staff had been trapped contained in the Silkyara tunnel after a landslide hit the positioning in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) member Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain stated that in operations like these, when geology is in opposition to us and expertise is in opposition to us, estimates cannot be made.

New Delhi: After greater than 15 days since 41 staff had been trapped contained in the Silkyara tunnel after a landslide hit the positioning in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) member Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain stated that in operations like these, when geology is in opposition to us and expertise is in opposition to us, estimates cannot be made.

“In this kind of an operation, when geology is against us and technology is against us, we cannot make any estimates. However, we are all the time bringing in every possible resource. When the Auger machine broke down, the same night, efforts were made to locate laser cutters, magna cutters around the whole country and efforts were made by the Indian Air Force to immediately fly them here. They were flown here and brought to the site, and that is what has been used. So it just shows that there is no quarter which is being spared as far as the efforts are concerned. So, based upon those efforts, all we can say is that the fastest way possible this rescue will be completed,” Hasnain instructed ANI.

During a press convention, Hasnain stated on Monday that backup communications had been established with the employees and meals and medicines had been being recurrently delivered to the trapped staff. “Things are under control. Food and medicine are going inside as per requirements. Psychological aspects are also given importance. Backup communications have been established,” he stated.

Hasnain additional knowledgeable that regardless of a yellow alert within the area because of chance of sunshine rain, rescue efforts will proceed unhindered. “Safety is being focused a lot. As per a meteorological report, a yellow alert is there from IMD, which means light rains can occur. But there is no possibility that work will be hindered because of this. I want to once again give assurance that all the stranded workers will be rescued,” he stated.

As per Hasnain, the damaged blades of the drilling machine had been absolutely retrieved and handbook drilling of the particles would start tonight with the assistance of Indian Army engineers and rat miners. “The broken blades of the auger machine that were not completely retrieved yesterday have been fully retrieved in the morning today. There were some obstacles while doing so, but the damage has now been fixed. Now, the manual technique will be employed tonight with the help of Indian Army engineers, rat miners, and other technicians. They will move inside forming a group of two people,” he stated.