The rescue operation to evacuate 41 workers trapped in Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel is currently underway.
On November 12, the labourers got trapped as an under-construction tunnel collapsed following a landslide at around 5.30 am.
On November 13, contact was established with trapped workers through a pipe meant to supply oxygen
On November 14, steel pipes of 800-900 millimetre diameter were brought to the tunnel site. On this day, two labourers sustained minor injuries.
On November 15, the NHIDCL asked for a state-of-the-art auger machine, which was airlifted from Delhi to speed up the operation.
On November 16, the drilling machine was assembled and installed.
On November 17, drilling of about 24 metres took place. Four pipes were also inserted that day.
On Nov 18, alternative options were explored by experts who decided to work on five evacuation plans simultaneously, including vertical drilling.
On November 19, drilling remained suspended as Union minister Nitin Gadkari reviewed the rescue operation and said boring horizontally is the best.
On November 20, a six-inch-wide pipeline was pushed through the rubble and that helped in supplying larger quantities of food & other essentials.
On November 21, the first video of the workers trapped inside the tunnel was released. They were seen receiving food items sent to them through pipe.
On November 22, the horizontal drilling of 800 mm diameter steel pipes reached about 45 metres. However, iron rods obstructed work.
On November 23, the iron obstruction was removed and drilling progressed by 1.8 metre.
On November 24, the rescue operation entered the 13th day. Currently, the tunnel has been drilled up to 46.8 meters.