Mamata sends team to Uttarkashi to help evacuation of Bengal workers trapped in Silkyara tunnel

The NDMA has said the rescue operations are near a breakthrough as the pipe has to be pushed for another two metres to reach the 41 workers.

Published on: Nov 28, 2023, 17:26:42 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday announced that her government has rushed a team to Uttarkashi to help the workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel.

In a post on social media platform X, the chief minister said the team led by Rajdeep Dutta, Liaison Officer, Office of Resident Commissioner, New Delhi, will help evacuation and safe return of the trapped workers in the tunnel at Silkyara, Uttarkashi to their homes in West Bengal.

Uttarkashi tunnel rescue operations LIVE coverage

Manual drilling underway as rescue operations enter the 17th day in the Silkyara tunnel, in Uttarkashi on Tuesday. (ANI)

“The team further includes: Shubhabrata Pramanick: Mobile 8981200471. Somnath Chakraborty: Mobile 8130258750. Raju Kumar Sinha: Mobile 9968732695,” Banerjee added.

“They have moved for Uttarkashi by a car (Car no. WB02AP – 0014; Driver A. Kumar, Mobile 9971413458) to facilitate our 3 workers (1. Shri Manir Talukdar, S/o Shri K. Talukdar, Cooch Behar. 2. Shri Sevik Pakhera, S/o Shri Asit Pakhera, Harinakhali 3. Shri Jaidev Pramanik, S/o Shri Tapas Pramanik, Nimdangi, Hooghly) who have been trapped inside the collapsed Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarkashi. Assuring all support,” the chief minister said.

ALSO READ: Explained: How the Silkyara tunnel rescue operation is being carried out

‘3-4 hours to evacuate workers’: NDMA

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said that the rescue operations are near a breakthrough as the pipe has to be pushed for another two metres to reach the 41 workers.

NDMA Member Lt Gen (retd) Syed Ata Hasnain said that 58 metres of drilling has been done, and the rescue pipe has to be pushed towards the trapped workers by another two meters.

ALSO READ: These are the trapped workers in Silkyara tunnel. Full list

"We are near a breakthrough but not yet there," he said.

Once the breakthrough is achieved, it would take 3-4 hours to bring out all the trapped workers, Lt Gen Hasnain added, saying it would take about 3-5 minutes to pull out each worker on a wheeled stretcher through the pipe.

He also said that rat miners did a phenomenal job by digging 10 metres in less than 24 hours.

Hasnain said all security and safety precautions are being taken for workers trapped inside Silkyara tunnel and for those engaged in rescue operations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.