The 41 workers were pulled out yesterday after a 17-day rescue operation which involved several agencies, drilling machines and rat miners, a profession that is now banned in India.
While the American drilling machine ‘auger’ managed to horizontally drill through nearly three-quarters of the debris, the last leg had to be drilled manually after the machine collapsed. A dozen rat miners, adept at burrowing in tight spaces, were then called in to take over and complete the rescue operation.
Situated about 30 km from Uttarkashi, the Silkyara tunnel is an integral part of the central government’s Char Dham all-weather road project, which will stretch for about 889 kilometers across the fragile Himalayan terrain.
The project to build the tunnel is being carried out by Hyderabad-based Navayuga Engineering Company Limited, which has reportedly handled such projects before.
On November 12, a portion of the tunnel collapsed about 200 meters from the entrance, trapping the laborers working inside.
With the workers safe, the focus will now shift on what led to the collapse. The incident also highlights the risks of large scale development in the mountainous region which is seismic and prone to landslides.
While large projects are required to undergo an Environmental Impacts Assessment, the Silkyara Tunnel was exempt as it is divided into segments smaller than 100 km each. So the Supreme Court in 2019 asked an expert panel to suggest risk mitigation options.
The committee identified numerous problems. Its members warned that the nature of the soil, consisting in part of crushed rocks and limestone would exacerbate the existing risk of landslides and flash floods in Uttarakhand.
The government has said the National Highways Authority of India will carry out an audit of the 29 tunnels currently under construction across India.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said, “This was the first time such a mishap occurred. There is a lot we have learnt from this incident. We are going to conduct a safety audit of the tunnel, and also study how we could use better technology. Himalayan strata is very fragile and it is very tough to work there, but we will have to find solution.

Rescuers have pulled out all 41 workers trapped for 17 days inside a collapsed Uttarakhand tunnel after rat miners drilled through the debris, triggering jubilation. NDTV speaks to Akhilesh Singh, one of the workers who was trapped in the tunnel for 17 days.

At least six states have put their health infrastructure on alert mode after the Centre’s directive to review readiness in view of a surge in respiratory illnesses among children in China. State governments in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Tamil Nadu have asked hospitals and healthcare staff to ensure preparedness to tackle patients complaining of respiratory issues.

The Karnataka health department has also asked citizens to be aware of the seasonal flu. Listing the symptoms and risk factors of seasonal flu, the advisory also mentions dos and don’ts. These include covering the mouth and nose while coughing or sneezing, frequent washing of hands, avoiding touching the face, and using masks in crowded spots.

The advisory issued by Rajasthan health department said the situation is “not worrisome at present” but the medical staff should keep vigil and prevent spread of infectious diseases. It added that adequate arrangements should be made in paediatric units and medicine departments.

In Gujarat, Health Minister Rushikesh Patel said the healthcare infrastructure created during the COVID-19 pandemic was being strengthened as a precautionary measure in view of the China situation. The state government has asked government officials to review their readiness.

The Uttarakhand government directed health officials to step up surveillance for cases of respiratory illnesses. Three districts of Uttarakhand — Chamoli, Uttarkashi and Pithoragarh — share borders with China.

The Haryana health department has put out a directive, stressing that any “clustering of unusual respiratory illness” in public or private hospitals must be reported immediately.

In Tamil Nadu, government-run and private hospitals have received a similar direction as the state health department takes steps to boost preparedness.

A statement by the state health department said that while the state hasn’t reported any child pneumonia cases yet, officials have been asked to keep vigil as a precautionary measure.

This comes after the Union Health Ministry’s advisory to states, asking them to review preparedness to tackle any emerging situation. The Union Health Ministry has said the situation is not alarming, and it is closely monitoring it.

“All States and Union Territories have been advised to implement ‘Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in the context of COVID-19’, shared earlier this year, which provides for integrated surveillance of respiratory pathogens presenting as cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory illness (SARI),” the ministry said in a statement.

The surge in respiratory illnesses cases in northern China, particularly among children, has sparked concern four years after Covid-19 emerged in the country and went on to become a pandemic that changed the world.

Chinese health authorities, however, have said the rising infections are a mix of already known viruses and are linked to the country’s first full cold season after strict Covid curbs were lifted last December, news agency AFP reported.

Experts said that while the new situation remains unclear, there is little to suggest the cases were caused by a new virus.