Rescue Operation In Uttarakhand Tunnel Collapse Nears Conclusion: Trapped Workers Expected To Be Freed Within 15-17 Hours

Bhaskar Khulbe, a former advisor to the Prime Minister's office, announced on Thursday that the rescue operation for the Uttarakhand tunnel collapse is expected to conclude within 12-14 hours. He also mentioned that upon reaching the 41 workers stuck inside, an additional three hours might be needed to evacuate them individually.

The senior official stated that the obstruction caused by an iron mesh hindering the drillers was removed by the rescue workers.

The iron mesh posed a significant delay to the rescue operation, taking several hours to be removed due to the challenging conditions inside the narrow, confined pipe.

"It took us six hours to remove it. But the good news is that we have cleared the hurdle which came yesterday after drilling up to 45 metres had been done," he told the media.

He stated that the rescue team was in the process of welding the pipes and that the drilling operation would commence shortly.

"It will take around 12 to 14 hours more to complete the whole operation of reaching the workers. After that, it will take three more hours to take out the workers one by one. That will be done with the help of NDRF," he added.

Reports indicate that rescuers are just 6 meters away from reaching the trapped workers.

The administration of Uttarkashi, along with various other agencies, have meticulously organized plans for the post-rescue retrieval of the laborers who have been stuck in the tunnel for a period of 12 days.

The administration has arranged for 41 ambulances that are waiting outside the tunnel.