Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse LIVE: Last Phase Update!

Are you looking for updates on the Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse? According to new updates coming out, only 5-6 meters left to reach the workers. Multi govt agencies like NDMA, NDRF, SDRF(Uttarakhand), Indian Army, ONGC, etc are working in great coordination in this rescue mission.

A tunnel in Silkyara-Barkot, Uttarkashi collapsed, trapping 41 workers. To rescue them, experts in rat hole mining were called in for manual drilling through the debris.

By Monday evening, the damaged auger drilling machine was removed, and a steel pipe was inserted to extend the escape passage. Vertical drilling from above had reached 42 meters out of the required 86 meters by Tuesday morning.

BREAKING: Rescue teams have reached the trapped workers. All smiles, rescue all set to begin! Live coverage here: https://t.co/QyIUVccytB pic.twitter.com/izlUUR0FbJ

— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) November 28, 2023

 
The plan is to extract the workers through a one-meter-wide shaft when it breaks through the top of the tunnel, expected by Thursday. A team of 12 rat hole mining experts started manual drilling on Monday to excavate horizontally through the last 10 or 12 meter stretch of debris in the collapsed part of the under construction tunnel on the Char Dham project route.

Why did Uttarakhand tunnel collapsed?

The exact cause of the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse is still under investigation, but preliminary findings suggest that it was caused by a combination of factors, including:

Geological Instability

The tunnel was being constructed in an area of high geological instability, known as a “shear zone.” These zones are characterized by weak and fractured rock formations that are susceptible to landslides and collapses.

Inadequate Geological Assessment

It is possible that the geological assessment conducted prior to the construction of the tunnel did not adequately identify the risks posed by the shear zone.

Construction Practices

The construction practices used in the tunnel may have also contributed to the collapse. For example, the use of heavy machinery and explosives could have destabilized the surrounding rock formations.

The collapse of the Uttarakhand tunnel highlights the importance of thorough geological assessments and careful construction practices when building in seismically active regions.

Here are some additional factors that may have contributed to the collapse:

• Weather Conditions: Heavy rainfall in the area prior to the collapse may have contributed to the instability of the rock formations.
• Design Flaws: It is possible that there were design flaws in the tunnel that made it more susceptible to collapse.

A thorough investigation into the collapse will be necessary to determine the exact cause and to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

What is rat hole mining?

Rat hole mining is a dangerous and illegal mining practice in India that involves digging narrow, vertical shafts into the ground to reach coal seams. These shafts are typically only large enough for one person to enter and exit, and they can extend up to 100 meters deep.

Rat hole mining is prevalent in Meghalaya, India, where it is used to extract coal from shallow seams. The practice is also found in other parts of India and in other countries, including China, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

This mining is extremely hazardous for workers, who are exposed to a number of dangers, including:

• Collapses: The shafts are unstable and can collapse at any time, trapping workers underground.
• Suffocation: The shafts are poorly ventilated, and workers can suffocate from inhaling carbon dioxide and other gases.
• Explosions: Coal dust can accumulate in the shafts and ignite, causing explosions.
• Injuries: Workers can be injured by falling rocks, falling debris, and machinery.

This type of mining is also environmentally damaging. The shafts can cause erosion and landslides, and they can contaminate water sources with acid mine drainage.

Despite the dangers, many people are forced to work in rat-hole mines because of poverty and a lack of other employment opportunities. The government of India banned rat-hole mining in 2014, but the practice continues illegally.

Who are rat minors?

As we know, multiple Govt agencies are working on the “Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse” rescue mission, so various methods are being carried away, and rat mining is one of them.

12 experts in rat-hole mining are helping in this rescue mission. Parsadi Lodhi, a resident of Jhansi and a rat-hole miner, came to Silkyara to help in the rescue. He mentioned that he would go into the rescue pipes and use handheld tools to dig through the remaining debris that is blocking the tunnel exit.

This method of mining was banned by the NGT (National Green Tribunal) in 2014 but here rat hole mining appears to be a game changer. If you need more news on events in India, stay updated with Global Newswala.