The Silkyara tunnel collapsed on 12 November 2023, trapping 41 workers. After the auger broke, rat-hole miners dug the last stretch and all 41 were rescued on…
The tunnel was awarded in 2018. Early reports flagged poor and very poor rock.
On Diwali morning, a section 203-240 m from the portal fell in, trapping 41 workers.
How 41 men survived behind the debris.
The machine lifted and a cracking sound sent people running. Drilling halted.
Vertical shafts, side tunnels and the horizontal pipe were all pursued in parallel.
Only one had to succeed.
A wider pipe carried khichdi and a camera. All 41 were seen alive.
The machine snapped while being pulled back, jamming 32 m of auger in the pipe.
How far the rescue pipe got.
Twelve men with hammers and chisels began digging the last stretch by hand.
The first man emerged about 8 pm; all 41 were out by about 8:50 pm.
After checks, 40 of the 41 were declared fit to go home.
Compensation, rewards and notices.
As reported, it blamed NHIDCL, the contractor and the supervisor, and urged penal action.
Assessments, not a court verdict.
Experts met to turn the rescue into better tunnel safety practice.
The Silkyara and Barkot ends met. Work on lining and roads continued.
A falling lining block killed a 21-year-old worker. Inquiries were ordered.
Eight years in nine dates.
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