Silkyara Tunnel collapse: Plasma cutter flown in to remove auger blades from rubble
Uttarkashi (PTI): A plasma cutter was flown in from Hyderabad on Sunday to cut and remove parts of the auger machine stuck in the rubble inside the Silkyara tunnel where 41 labourers have been stranded for the last 14 days.
A complete disengagement of the machine is necessary for the officials to resume the rescue work which involves manual pushing of pipes through rubble to prepare an escape passage.
A part of a drill machine has also been sent atop the hill, above the tunnel, for a vertical drilling.
A unit of Madras Sappers, an engineer group of the Corps of Engineers of the Indian Army, arrived at the site on Sunday to assist in the rescue operations
Blades of the auger machine drilling through the rubble of the collapsed Silkyara tunnel had got stuck in the debris Friday night forcing officials to consider switching to other options that could drag the rescue operation by several days, or even weeks.
On day 14 of the multi-agency rescue mission, officials shifted focus to two alternatives -- manual drilling through the remaining 10- or 12-metre stretch of the rubble or, more likely, drilling down 86 metres from above.
The rescue effort began November 12 when a portion of the under-construction tunnel on Uttarakhand's Char Dham route collapsed following a landslide, cutting off the exit for the workers inside.
The workers are in a built-up two-kilometre stretch of the tunnel. They are being sent food, medicines and other essentials through the six-inch wide pipe.
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NASA delays Sunita Williams' return to Earth again amid Boeing starliner spacecraft issues
Washington DC: NASA astronaut Sunita Williams' return to Earth has been postponed again due to ongoing technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft. The spacecraft has been experiencing problems, including helium leaks and malfunctioning thrusters, which are essential for a safe re-entry.
Despite initial assurances, Williams' return has been delayed twice, with no new date announced yet. She and her fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore, are currently safe on the International Space Station (ISS) along with seven other crew members.
The delay has sparked concerns and controversy, with 20 whistleblowers alleging that NASA and Boeing ignored their warnings about the spacecraft's technical issues. Boeing has faced similar allegations regarding its other aircraft, raising questions about the reliability of its products.
NASA has emphasized that the spacecraft is ready for an emergency return if needed and is taking its time to ensure a safe return. The agency is assessing future return opportunities, pending a planned spacewalk on July 2.
