Uttarkashi tunnel update: new driller reaches rescue site, defunct machine being taken out

As the rescue operation enters its 7th day in Uttarkashi, Uttrakhand, a new drilling machine has been airlifted to the rescue operation site to rescue the trapped 41 workers inside the collapsed tunnel.

On Friday the operation came to a halt after loud cracking sounds inside the tunnel as well as the glitch in the drilling machine.

On Saturday, a new top nautch drilling machine was airlifted from Indore, Madhya Pradesh to the operation site, however, it will be deployed once the existing defective drilling machine is removed from the tunnel.

Also watch: Uttarkashi tunnel collapse: rescue ops hit as high-capacity machine fails to drill further

On November 18, the NDRF updated the list of trapped persons from 40 to 41 and assured that all trapped inside the tunnel were safe.

As per the reports, the rescue operation is going at a slower pace than expected due to the technical glitch in the drilling machine and the nature of the debris.

The rescuers are planning to push the drill through 65-70 meters of debris and push two pipes of 800 mm and 900 mm one after another to create a passage through which the trapped workers can crawl to safety.