Rescue Efforts Intensify as Trenchless Technique Deployed in Uttarkashi Tunnel Collapse
Image Source: Indian Express
In a race against time, rescue operations are underway in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, where an under-construction tunnel on the Yamunotri National Highway collapsed, trapping 40 workers. The incident occurred around 5:30 am on Sunday, and despite communication with the trapped workers via walkie-talkies and the supply of food and oxygen through a makeshift pipe, two and a half days have passed since their entrapment.
Initially, heavy excavator machines were deployed to clear the rubble, with efforts to prevent further debris using the “shotcrete method.” However, this approach has only been partially successful due to ongoing debris falling from the upper part of the tunnel. As a result, authorities have shifted their strategy to a “trenchless” technique, a method involving the creation of passages through mild steel pipes.
A diverse team of experts, including representatives from the National Highways Authority of India, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, L&T, and other key organizations, is collaborating on the rescue plan. The state government’s statement emphasizes the engagement of specialists to ensure a comprehensive and effective strategy.
The “trenchless” technique involves the use of a 900 mm wide mild steel (MS) pipe, guided by an auger machine with a helical screw blade. The rotating blade clears debris, allowing the MS pipes to be pushed through the pile, creating a passage wide enough for trapped individuals to crawl through. Eight pipes of 900 mm and 11 pipes of 800 mm are on-site to facilitate the operation.
The technique is crucial in tunnel collapse rescue operations as it provides a means to access and rescue individuals without exacerbating the collapse or causing further harm. By minimizing the need for significant excavation, the risk of additional structural instability is reduced.
A team of five expert engineers from the Irrigation Department in Dehradun is on-site to oversee the installation of MS pipes. The rescue effort also involves a staging area equipped with vertical and horizontal drill machines, shotcrete machines, poclain machines, JCBs, trucks, hydras, and loaders. Both inside and outside the tunnel, a fleet of machinery and equipment is diligently working to expedite the rescue operation.
In parallel with the rescue efforts, the Uttarakhand government has formed an expert committee under the director of the Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Center. The committee comprises experts from renowned institutions such as the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Indian Institute of Technology, Central Building Research Institute, and the Geological Survey of India. Their mandate is to investigate the causes of the collapse, providing crucial insights for future preventive measures.
As the clock ticks, the collaborative efforts of authorities, experts, and rescue teams aim to ensure the safe extraction of the trapped workers. The utilization of innovative techniques like “trenchless” methods underscores the importance of adapting to the dynamic challenges posed by such emergencies, emphasizing the value of technology and expertise in mitigating disasters.
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